A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
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Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#2The story reports that the Walkman changed people's opinions about wearing headphones. (The kind of listening earpieces, even paired in a framework, used with the Walkman I usually think of as "earphones," but I see that the contemporary news story called them headphones, back in the day.) What I most remember about the Walkman is that it liberated public places from boomboxes, unaffectionately known as "ghetto blasters," which I used to hear all too often when I was out in public as a student and as a recent university graduate.
AFTER EDIT: And after thinking about this some more, and after pondering the other comments kindly posted here, I think maybe the future of Google Glass will depend in part on whether wearing Google Glass is seen as eliminating a disgusting previous habit (like looking down at one's lap to text while driving) or is seen as a new disgusting habit with no good purpose. I have no idea what most people will think about this--I have still never seen anyone with Google Glass on in my part of the country.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#3> It causes people to isolate themselves from their experience, the contact with nature - sort of, a neo-existential prelude to doom.
Mmm, yes. Shallow and pedantic.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#4The story reports that the Walkman changed people's opinions about wearing headphones. (The kind of listening earpieces, even paired in a framework, used with the Walkman I usually think of as "earphones," but I see that the contemporary news story called them headphones, back in the day.) What I most remember about the Walkman is that it liberated public places from boomboxes, unaffectionately known as "ghetto blast…
I would like a return of ghetto blasters. Those things are cool and I have one wired up to an ipad cut into it to play tunes.
I have a google glass too and I don't wear it so much in public. You can't really see it with a hat - probably mounted in real glasses and long hair or a hat is best.
I'd hold up for the contacts over the eyes, this is sort of a half step that will be great proving ground - but ultimately too invasive into life - like at a partttty!
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#5Past results do not guarantee future results. Behold the stack of counter-example dorky looking technologies that didn't catch on.
The missing ingredient is cool and popular people have to be seen using the technology, and make it look good while doing it.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#6I disagree that people will become comfortable with Google Glass - the primary negative reaction is the voyeuristic-rejection of having a camera always pointed at you (that may or may not be recording).
To which the analogy vs. headphones is not relevant.
I anticipate, however, that Google (or somebody) will find a way to make this product largely invisible to anybody but the wearer in the near term future.
Through more discreet projection / camera placement, or future-tech incorporation with a contact lens.
So for a company in the business of printing money, investing in BETAs at this stage to understand UX, function, etc is wise.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#7Headphones are STILL smug and alientating.
I wear them all the time because I like listening to music on the go. However, I still think, objectively speaking, they are silly and off-putting. Just because they are so common now doesn't mean we have to deny their intrinsic nature.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#8I disagree that people will become comfortable with Google Glass - the primary negative reaction is the voyeuristic-rejection of having a camera always pointed at you (that may or may not be recording). To which the analogy vs. headphones is not relevant. I anticipate, however, that Google (or somebody) will find a way to make this product largely invisible to anybody but the wearer in the near term future. Through m…
Totally agree. I refuse to talk to anyone with one of those on. It's not only creepy but also really unfair. It also throws the whole concern of private conversations out the door. Get rid of the camera but keep the glass. Maybe then we will be more comfortable.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#9Big difference IMO is that the Glass is worn, and even more, is worn on the face, specifically around the eyes.
Remember how douchey the bluetooth headset people were? Very small by comparison, and that was mostly hidden if you had long hair, or were viewed directly from the front.
The Pebble is about the limit, which is why the wrist-computer thing is so interesting, even though it doesn't provide a huge amount of new capability for "heads up" computing vs. a vibrating smartphone. I'm mostly unwilling to wear the "old" Pebble, but probably will wear Pebble Metal, and will definitely wear Pebble 3.0 (if it improves by roughly the same amount; 1-4mm slimmer would be nice).
Glass would be fine alone, or in a car, or in the field, but probably not something I'd wear at dinner, or in a casual meeting (unless by using it I were much more productive and useful).
The article seems to think wearing headphones in public is ok. It's fine when you're sitting down avoiding people, but the kids wearing large, crappy headphones in other environments (e.g. at meals) are kind of pathetic.
Re: A 33-Year-Old NPR Story Convinced Me Google Glass Will Stop Looking So Dorky
#10I disagree that people will become comfortable with Google Glass - the primary negative reaction is the voyeuristic-rejection of having a camera always pointed at you (that may or may not be recording). To which the analogy vs. headphones is not relevant. I anticipate, however, that Google (or somebody) will find a way to make this product largely invisible to anybody but the wearer in the near term future. Through m…
I've found that in my own experience that depressed people focus on and recall negative details moreso than the good.
This form of selective memory, remember the good things and forgetting the bad, is a primary tool that ordinary people use to stay sane. Something that records everything you do forever has the potential to serious mess with that.
Wikipedia calls it the negative triad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_errors#Depression