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Google Glass only needs to get over its initial days in which it is viewed as awkward and then it will be socially acceptable. Unlike the first cellphones, its

Google Glass only needs to get over its initial days in which it is viewed as awkward and then it will be socially acceptable. Unlike the first cellphones, its plainly visible even when you're not using it, and like Bluetooth headsets there's a risk of being perceived as someone not caring about their surroundings. Even on a forum like Slashdot which is populated by uber-geeks, here's the results of an ongoing poll with ~5000 people voting. Head-mounted displays / sensors like Google Glass are: Creepy 1823 votes / 32% Cool 821 votes / 14% Ugly 502 votes / 8% Baffling 323 votes / 5% Intriguing 1498 votes / 26% Short-sighted 413 votes / 7% I've got my own adjective! (Explained in comments.) 208 votes / 3% http://slashdot.org/poll/2577/head-mounted-displays--sensors-like-google-glass-are http://slashdot.org/poll/2577/head-mounted-displays--sensors... The 40% positive outlook is still not bad though.

DanBC 13y ago
I love the idea of Google Glass and I'd definitely use them if I had them. But... > Google Glass only needs to get over its initial days in which it is viewed as awkward and then it will be socially acceptable. People said that about segway and sinclair C5s and etc etc. I really hope that Google can manage to make Glass work. Lots of other headmounted displays failed or didn't make it out of very small niches.
- Kiro 13y ago
  I don't think segways and sinclairs provide the utility to make them mainstream. Not 100% sure Google Glass does either but I think the chance is higher.
- ams6110 13y ago
  I think the segway is a good comparison. It had similar hype ("it will change the way cities are designed") and who uses them today: nerds, and obese mall cops. Unless Glass solves real problems in a way that is compelling to real people, they will remain nerd toys.
  - mikeash 13y ago
    For all the discussion of "cool" and whatever, utility certainly seems key. We can talk about the Segway's coolness all we want, but it's ultimately not that important. Why did the Segway never become more than a niche product? Because it's pretty much useless! It fills a mostly-unwanted niche between walking and bicycles. Most people can walk. Bicycles are cheap. Given how little it does, I can't fathom how one would have looked at a pre-production Segway and thought, wow, I bet these will sell like hotcakes. Glass is more of a platform than a product right now. The question of what it's for is still mostly unanswered. Find the killer app for it, and all the questions of creepiness or uncoolness will melt away. Fail to find anything useful to do with it, and the lack of coolness will just become an excuse for the fanboys to use.

DanBC 13y ago

I love the idea of Google Glass and I'd definitely use them if I had them. But... > Google Glass only needs to get over its initial days in which it is viewed as awkward and then it will be socially acceptable. People said that about segway and sinclair C5s and etc etc. I really hope that Google can manage to make Glass work. Lots of other headmounted displays failed or didn't make it out of very small niches.

Kiro 13y ago
I don't think segways and sinclairs provide the utility to make them mainstream. Not 100% sure Google Glass does either but I think the chance is higher.
ams6110 13y ago
I think the segway is a good comparison. It had similar hype ("it will change the way cities are designed") and who uses them today: nerds, and obese mall cops. Unless Glass solves real problems in a way that is compelling to real people, they will remain nerd toys.
- mikeash 13y ago
  For all the discussion of "cool" and whatever, utility certainly seems key. We can talk about the Segway's coolness all we want, but it's ultimately not that important. Why did the Segway never become more than a niche product? Because it's pretty much useless! It fills a mostly-unwanted niche between walking and bicycles. Most people can walk. Bicycles are cheap. Given how little it does, I can't fathom how one would have looked at a pre-production Segway and thought, wow, I bet these will sell like hotcakes. Glass is more of a platform than a product right now. The question of what it's for is still mostly unanswered. Find the killer app for it, and all the questions of creepiness or uncoolness will melt away. Fail to find anything useful to do with it, and the lack of coolness will just become an excuse for the fanboys to use.