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So many are commenting on how it "looks" and if they were as fashionable as sunglasses that it would become mainstream. I couldn't see this being farther from

So many are commenting on how it "looks" and if they were as fashionable as sunglasses that it would become mainstream. I couldn't see this being farther from the truth. If it was a useful product in its current incarnation then people would be using it. I think the real problem is as of right now it just isn't that useful.

notatoad 13y ago
exactly. fashion is completely abstract, whether something becomes fashionable is largely based on how useful it is otherwise. Dark glasses covering your face would be supremely ugly, if they weren't so useful at shielding your eyes from the sun. Because they are useful, they have become fashionable. Wearable technology will come into vogue the same way - you can't make something fashionable just by making it unobtrusive or inoffensive, it will be considered fashionable when the celebrities who set trends find it useful enough to start wearing it. And no google, paying models to wear it during fashion week doesn't count.
- Theodores 13y ago
  I think they need to rethink the design to make something more along the lines of conventional eyewear. For instance if they teamed up with Oakley and had some useful actual glass in front of the eyes then - in an instant - the sports market would be not just interested in the product but able to find new applications. For instance, I would not mind an overlay 'head up display' on a cycle commute with cadence, an idea if I was on time relative to my normal journey and generally better 'telemetry' than available with the glorified digital watches that pass for cycle computers. If I could also use Glass to communicate with other riders on the road then I would be able to find more uses, e.g. if cycling with a friend and not wanting to shout whilst riding two abreast. Just having decent eyewear - the part an Oakley could bring to the table - might be the reason I would wear the things. The rise of Oakley - starting way back in the 80's when their cycling goggles looked like ski glasses - is something I think the Google Glass team can learn from.
runewell 13y ago
Usefulness is certainly a large factor but when you are being constantly told to take it off when you walk into certain businesses then the "look" of the device certainly matters. If it just looked like a pair of glasses there would be no problems.

notatoad 13y ago

exactly. fashion is completely abstract, whether something becomes fashionable is largely based on how useful it is otherwise. Dark glasses covering your face would be supremely ugly, if they weren't so useful at shielding your eyes from the sun. Because they are useful, they have become fashionable. Wearable technology will come into vogue the same way - you can't make something fashionable just by making it unobtrusive or inoffensive, it will be considered fashionable when the celebrities who set trends find it useful enough to start wearing it. And no google, paying models to wear it during fashion week doesn't count.

Theodores 13y ago
I think they need to rethink the design to make something more along the lines of conventional eyewear. For instance if they teamed up with Oakley and had some useful actual glass in front of the eyes then - in an instant - the sports market would be not just interested in the product but able to find new applications. For instance, I would not mind an overlay 'head up display' on a cycle commute with cadence, an idea if I was on time relative to my normal journey and generally better 'telemetry' than available with the glorified digital watches that pass for cycle computers. If I could also use Glass to communicate with other riders on the road then I would be able to find more uses, e.g. if cycling with a friend and not wanting to shout whilst riding two abreast. Just having decent eyewear - the part an Oakley could bring to the table - might be the reason I would wear the things. The rise of Oakley - starting way back in the 80's when their cycling goggles looked like ski glasses - is something I think the Google Glass team can learn from.

runewell 13y ago

Usefulness is certainly a large factor but when you are being constantly told to take it off when you walk into certain businesses then the "look" of the device certainly matters. If it just looked like a pair of glasses there would be no problems.