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The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

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Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#181

Post by saraid216 »

planetguy wrote: post #125
toemetoch wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not the device, it's the applications people will crave. Think about these apps for your glasses: - adBlocker to remove ads from your view - first person shooter missions with google maps integration. All you need is an empty cow-pasture. - architects/renovators guiding people through their new/renovated house before the contract' signed. - ... You're suffering from a serious lack of realism if you discard them…

adBlocker to remove ads from your view I hate ads, but not quite enough to go round blocking portions of my vision just to avoid seeing 'em. I envisage myself getting run over by an advertising-covered bus. first person shooter missions with google maps integration. All you need is an empty cow-pasture Sounds fun, but niche. Laser Tag isn't a big industry. architects/renovators guiding people through their new/renova…

Or how about this? Imagine a store you'd walk into, get issued a pair of glasses, then you could walk around, look at things, and have information about 'em magically appear? How cool would that be? Answer: awesomely cool... the first time. In year one, that store would be the coolest thing on the planet. But the fiftieth time you go in there.... meh.

They're doing this in Korea already, I believe.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#183

Post by tysont »

I still think that the future of Facebook is data (not specifically picture data, that's just one piece). Advances in hardware and cloud computing have kick started an era where data mining and machine learning are pervasive in every field from pharmaceutical research to banking to sports and everywhere in between. Facebook is the single authoritative source for a whole bunch of personal data. People have started thinking about the basic applications for that data when it comes to things like online shopping (you're a 31 year old white male with an 8 month old daughter who likes rock and roll, so you probably want to buy diapers, zinfandel, and a radiohead album), but I think that lots of new interesting applications will emerge over the next several years that don't violate user privacy and will monetize well.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#184

Post by saraid216 »

albertzeyer wrote: post #127

Google needs to have some sort of brain interface to project glass. I.e. control it via your mind. The speaking out loud is distracting. It wont work. It's too complicated. And nobody wants to talk with his glasses (like noone wants to talk to Siri in public). People will not use it.

None of the demos I've seen have involved any speaking. They've involved tapping something and what might be eye tracking or head movements, but all the speaking was pretty obviously superfluous.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#185

Post by majormajor »

gcb wrote: post #71
Splines wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you make wearing a headpiece cool? I wear glasses and imagine some teeny tiny thing embedded in one of the arms. What could 20/20 people do that would be socially acceptable? Maybe a bluetooth headset looking thing?

Marketing. apple made walkmans cool again. After the 80s. with marketing alone.

When were they not cool? As a teen in the late 90s, everyone I knew had a discman. (Mine was bright orange, and got plenty of comments on how cool it looked. :) )

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#186

Post by majormajor »

planetguy wrote: post #167
manpreets7 wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of people used to carry pens on their shirts. Many still do. Now using bluetooth earpieces is commonplace. I am sure people will get used to using very tiny gadgets on their clothing or ears if they assist them in meaningful ways.

A lot of people used to carry pens on their shirts Isn't "pens in the front pocket" a defining characteristic of a 1950s-era nerd? Now using bluetooth earpieces is commonplace Sure, among two classes of people: travelling salesmen and complete toolbags. I am sure people will get used to using very tiny gadgets on their clothing or ears if they assist them in meaningful ways. Oh sure, I'm just arguing that it'll never…

If it works well enough, of course it will be cool. Once everyone has one to get shit done with, "cool" will be one of the biggest differentiators to determine which one to get.

If it doesn't work well enough, then it will be the new Newton—and even then, here we are 20 years later, and tablets are cool.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#187

Post by ajross »

eric-hu wrote: post #180
ajross wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be clear: I didn't say that Facebook was a waste. I said that Facebook's engineering effort was wasted, relative to the societal benefit (pick your definition) we see from the equivalent people at Google. And by extension, I made the point that Facebook hiring all these people was a net loss to society, because it didn't do anything but make an already good product a little better.

One could argue that Facebook's hiring spree enabled them to scale and further handle large amounts of users and photos. Is this a total waste to society? Could the Arab spring have happened without such social tools? Is the world a better place when common people are empowered to fight against perceived repression? I'm not taking a stance on those revolutions will affect their countries. I will say, however, that a…

One could argue, yes. But not, IMHO, well. Again: other companies have done much more with their employee talent. To argue otherwise seems like mostly excuse-making to me. Facebook has taken a bunch of great hackers and exploited them very poorly.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#188

Post by philwelch »

toemetoch wrote: post #81
grandalf wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A camera that takes images comparable to a picture taken on a current iPhone? For every frame (such as in a video) the amount of work involved to reduce boredom increases. Raw video of people's lives is utterly, unimaginably boring, even if the person is a celebrity. Still photos work b/c they capture a whole moment, with just enough detail to inspire the imagination and to ground the imaginings in reality. My person…

It's not the device, it's the applications people will crave. Think about these apps for your glasses: - adBlocker to remove ads from your view - first person shooter missions with google maps integration. All you need is an empty cow-pasture. - architects/renovators guiding people through their new/renovated house before the contract' signed. - ... You're suffering from a serious lack of realism if you discard them…

If augmented reality glasses have adblockers, I hope it's possible to set the adblocker to "They Live" mode: http://www.jnack.com/finnegan/images/theyLive.jpg

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#189

Post by daenz »

gfosco wrote: post #2

It is unfortunate they are both scary companies. They both know too much about their users, and their users connections. Even if you don't have a Facebook account, there is probably still some evidence of you in their system. Unlike Facebook, it would be pretty hard to not use Google at all, but it's at least possible to use their services and remain unidentified. Photos are over-rated, but tell that to the ~500 mill…

> where there is no disconnecting from the web of surveillance.

When you look at what has happened with mobile phone cameras and police brutality, it seems that this kind of tech does more active good than it does passive harm.

Re: The futures of Facebook and Google are embedded in these two images

#190

Post by philwelch »

guelo wrote: post #114

I'm not sure I understand this article. What is it that he imagines actors and athletes doing that they don't do with Twitter now? People hold up their phones pretty close to their face when capturing photos and videos so it is already the first person POV. And it is pretty easy to do, I'm sure it will be harder taking pics with Glass than a phone, it is more flexible taking pictures with your hands than your face. T…

I think you're underrating just how cool things look in first person sometimes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZA-57h64kE
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