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At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

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131–140 of 188 posts

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#131
post #4

This is a well-written piece, simultaneously praising and mocking Google Glass, with lots of memorable passages that made me smile or laugh. Let me quote just one of them: "At one point as I climbed the stairs and approached the second floor, I saw a group of five people wearing Google Glass, all silently staring off into space. I couldn’t tell if they were wirelessly having a conversation through their eyeballs, or…

To offer a counterpoint, I thought it was a terribly written piece that is like "cliches about glass 101". Sure he had the conversation with the gentleman regarding winking...or maybe he read about that app and thought he would milk the "Google Glass dystopia" a little further (he had another ridiculous piece that made waves about Google Glass' "shine" wearing off, which is funny because I've read the same fear-monge…

Yes, it seems contrived to me, just like a blog post that the author references, written by himself, where he claims to have forgotten to pay a NYC cab driver because he was used to using Uber in SF. I think the winking thing is likely made up.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#132
post #128
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, you're the one offering a legal opinion. I'm willing to bet my experience with the justice system beats yours. For one thing, I've lived in the USA for my entire life. For another, I've lived in several states. For yet another, I've been involved in an altercation that came to the notice of the police. Several in fact. I'm still walking around a free man with nary a scratch on my record. So my experience would s…

Stop this please.

Paul, I'm happy to. But when someone directly contradicts me, I think it's only fair that I indicate where I'm coming from. Otherwise, it's just an echo-chamber.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#133
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But with google glass, suddenly small discrete cameras will be everywhere! Not like today, where for a picture to be taken, a huge flash bulb has to explode, and the subject has to stand perfectly still for 10 minutes.

Not exactly discreet, anyone wearing the dorky glasses will be automatically labeled dork, and when they start winking at things they want to photograph it will just be super creepy.

It is just a matter of time (perhaps it has even happened, I don't follow Glass development much) until there is an app for jailbroken Glass devices that takes photos on an X second timer, no winking required. Whenever cameras and control logic are combined, intervalometer control isn't far behind.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#134

Then I met the man who excitedly told me about his power to snap pictures with his eyelid. He explained that he uses the wink-to-take-a-picture feature so much that a few days ago he was not wearing his Google Glass and was confused when he blinked his eye and nothing happened. His mind had played a trick on him, he said. Well this itself isn't new, since I often reach to adjust my glasses even when I'm not wearing t…

I suspect the story was more about how often he's taking pictures than learned behavior.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#135

I am just confused as to why taking off your Glass will not be similar to other common social bathroom courtesies like putting away your cell phone, or utilizing family bathrooms, etc. Once a stigma is in place at the social level, it will work itself out. If not, there is always the direct approach of just asking someone to put it away.

Do you take off your normal glasses while using the bathroom?

Do normal glasses have a camera attached? Bathrooms are a place of privacy.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#136
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But with google glass, suddenly small discrete cameras will be everywhere! Not like today, where for a picture to be taken, a huge flash bulb has to explode, and the subject has to stand perfectly still for 10 minutes.

Not exactly discreet, anyone wearing the dorky glasses will be automatically labeled dork, and when they start winking at things they want to photograph it will just be super creepy.

Parent comment is being facetious.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#137
post #86

"I’ve been a nerd all my life, [but] I felt like a mere mortal among an entirely different class of super-connected humans." This is the most insightful passage in there, though it's probably unintentional. There is a separation taking place between "nerds" who enjoy the practical benefits of new technologies in their day-to-day lives, and those who believe that new technologies should and will alter our species in w…

Baby Boomers implicitly distrust PCs and the Internet, let alone smartphones, but many others realize that they are living in the most interesting time of their lives and wish they'd been born a little later.

In the US at least, I have to believe that the 60s were the most interesting times that generation lived through.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, to clarify, I mean just in public on the train or at a concert or a bar or whatever. The sorts of places where "mild" sexual assault of women by unfamiliar men is rather routine-- I'd posit much more common than assault of men by unfamiliar men in public restrooms, though I'm open to correction on that. My underlying question being, at what point does looking put one in enough fear of touching that preemptive esc…

I think I've adequately described the situation I'm referring to and the reason I feel violence is justified in that situation. Somehow you're ignoring all that. If you're in a bathroom, you're inherently close quarters, there's generally only one exit, there is an implied expectation of privacy, and witnesses are not plentiful. It's pretty obvious when looking has potential to turn to touching. That line exists righ…

I feel like I was pretty honest in my last paragraph: My sense is that the sort of fear of sexual assault that you're describing is something women I know experience fairly often in public, fully clothed, with witnesses. (And their fear is reasonable, since sexual assault occurs in those same circumstances.) Their reactions vary, but never is preemptive violence on the table, for obvious reasons.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with extending your standard of self-defense to women who feel uncomfortable with the way men are behaving in public, but I also feel it would be hugely challenging to our social structure and I'm curious where you fall on the issue.

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#139
post #37
post #4

This is a well-written piece, simultaneously praising and mocking Google Glass, with lots of memorable passages that made me smile or laugh. Let me quote just one of them: "At one point as I climbed the stairs and approached the second floor, I saw a group of five people wearing Google Glass, all silently staring off into space. I couldn’t tell if they were wirelessly having a conversation through their eyeballs, or…

I can quickly see Glass becoming this generations, "Are they crazy or bluetooth?"

Maybe it is a sign of us all getting old, when everybody else adopts google glasses.

They say old age is when you stop wanting to learn new things. (Well, somebody said that)

Re: At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom

#140
post #86

"I’ve been a nerd all my life, [but] I felt like a mere mortal among an entirely different class of super-connected humans." This is the most insightful passage in there, though it's probably unintentional. There is a separation taking place between "nerds" who enjoy the practical benefits of new technologies in their day-to-day lives, and those who believe that new technologies should and will alter our species in w…

Baby Boomers implicitly distrust PCs and the Internet, let alone smartphones, but many others realize that they are living in the most interesting time of their lives and wish they'd been born a little later. In the US at least, I have to believe that the 60s were the most interesting times that generation lived through.

Isn't that effectively the difference of opinion I'm highlighting?
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