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The Glass Bicycle

dcurt.is

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Re: The Glass Bicycle

#61

Post by jpalomaki »

DanBC wrote: post #22
VengefulCynic wrote: post #10

To my mind, the Google Glass is far more like the Microsoft Tablet, the Tesla Roadster and the Palm Treo: the initial realization of a concept that, before now, didn't exist in the world at all. It seems incorrect to compare it to the iPhone and the iPad because both of those were taking technology that had existed in the tech community for years and reimagining them in a way that appealed to the general public. As a…

> Google Glass is [...] the initial realization of a concept that, before now, didn't exist in the world at all. I don't understand. Heads up displays have existed in various forms for years. We've had versions that cover one eye, or that use lasers onto the retina.

Google glasses is not just about the heads up technology. I think equally important is the content they will be pushing in front of your eyes.

In order for this to be useful, you need to be providing very personalized information. And Google is in perfect position to provide this. They get under your skin via Google Searc, GMail and Google Calendar and can the supplement this with information mined from web.

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#62

Post by fusiongyro »

AnIrishDuck wrote: post #19
fusiongyro wrote: post #15

Yeah, it could be that, or it could just be the Xybernaut Poma: http://www.complex.com/tech/2011/04/the-50-worst-fails-in-te...

I'm not sold on Google Glass yet. But if you don't see the difference between [1] and [2] ... I don't know what to say 1. http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/80/0/bb/1/ffffff/bed82b8e... 2. http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/06/27/20120627_Google_... (it looks like the guy wearing the Poma is having trouble even keeping a straight face).

The difference between the two is just marketing and time. Glass's success crucially depends on convincing normal people that they won't look like dorks wearing it. It doesn't matter if it's a million times better than Xybernaut, if you can't get normal people to feel normal wearing it, it won't succeed. A million times better isn't good enough if it's still worse than not wearing it.

Technologists have always thought the problem with wearable computing was that the technology wasn't good enough. Nowadays, I think the real problem with wearable computing is fashion.

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#63

Post by czr80 »

bane wrote: post #13

If anybody wants to get a good idea where something like glass could go, read the Phaethon series starting with "The Golden Age". It's a bit of a tough read, but the author spent some serious time considering the implications of a civilization built around always wearing these kind of devices at all times. Glass acts like a layer on top of the real world, consider then that as the technology improves and the number o…

Out of curiosity, what happens when you walk into an "undesirable"?

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#64

Post by julian37 »

blhack wrote: post #46
clemesha wrote: post #36

If Google can avoid the "Segway curse" of extreme dorkiness, I can only then see Google Glass having a chance at being revolutionary.

Segways didn't "fail" because they were dorky, they didn't see wide adoption because they were [and are] extremely expensive.

I can't imagine Google Glass will be exactly cheap either.

Also, just like Segway has been facing regulatory issues [1], Glass deployment might be hampered by safety and privacy issues, at least initially and in some markets.

Not too far-fetched of a comparison really.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway_PT#Restrictions_on_use

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#65

Post by adam »

It's interesting that in HN comments, most people are very excited for the arrival of glass. They think of it as something that will enhance their lifestyle, their productivity, etc.

If you read comments about glass in other forums such as at the bottom of NYTimes articles or other more general public media, most comments seem to be just the opposite: fear and paranoia about the arrival of glass in terms of privacy, or "naturalists" who abhor the thought of technology being a ubiquitous layer in front of real world experiences.

This makes me think it will be awhile before glass will be universally accepted. Just like certain restaurants and cafes are declaring themselves as cell phone free zones, will they also make you take off your glasses before being seated?

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#66

Post by the_french »

bane wrote: post #13

If anybody wants to get a good idea where something like glass could go, read the Phaethon series starting with "The Golden Age". It's a bit of a tough read, but the author spent some serious time considering the implications of a civilization built around always wearing these kind of devices at all times. Glass acts like a layer on top of the real world, consider then that as the technology improves and the number o…

Though you bring up an interesting point, we are still very far from being able to do much of what you described. Being able to erase people entirely from video in real time is something I haven't seen done, nor do I think it would be feasible in the near future. Additionally, from what I see Google Glass is off in the corner of your vision and translucent so you would be able to see through anything it shows you.

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#67

Post by GHFigs »

sukuriant wrote: post #25
manaskarekar wrote: post #2

I personally don't know many people who are dismissing it off as "ugly, useless, and un-productizable." Almost everyone understands this is the room-sized ENIAC equivalent of our times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC

I don't know why you were downvoted. You simply said that these machines are going to be getting smaller, cleaner, less obtrusive. And they will.

The inevitability of miniaturization notwithstanding, it's slightly challenging to imagine a less obtrusive version of something whose defining property is that it sits on your face.

Maybe in five years we'll all be wearing smart-monocles. Who knows?

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#68

Post by Cardeck1 »

zevyoura wrote: post #43
Cardeck1 wrote: post #27

The biggest problem with Google Glass is privacy.Anyone can record you without you knowing it. And it's not just walking down the street. There are so many bad scenarios. Usually we embrace new tech here but this device would bring privacy to a whole new level. Not to mention that Google is starting to be too powerful for our own good.

>Anyone can record you without you knowing it. Isn't this already the case with small cameras?

Well yes, but 95% of those people are buying those small cameras for a specific task (surveillance) and you still have to attach it to a device to make it work but the majority of people will buy Glass because it's cool and innovative thus "stalking" becomes an available option, "just in case" you want to do it.Temptation wins...

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#69

Post by the_french »

zevyoura wrote: post #43
Cardeck1 wrote: post #27

The biggest problem with Google Glass is privacy.Anyone can record you without you knowing it. And it's not just walking down the street. There are so many bad scenarios. Usually we embrace new tech here but this device would bring privacy to a whole new level. Not to mention that Google is starting to be too powerful for our own good.

>Anyone can record you without you knowing it. Isn't this already the case with small cameras?

For the aver person a small camera is a smartphone, which needs to be obviously held up when filming. Google Glass would be omnipresent so you wouldn't notice when a camera is turned on.

Re: The Glass Bicycle

#70

Post by jzwinck »

untog wrote: post #55
blhack wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it isn't, it's just the first time that you're hearing about it because it's the first time that the tech has been pointed at your particular subset of consumer.

Alright, what other consumer products like Google Glass have been released?

I'm reaching here, but: Nintendo's Virtual Boy.
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