Google Glass: The Good and the Bad

It seems that the new piece of wearable tech is set to come to the market in 2014 and it’s a pretty cool concept. But how well does it translate into reality?  Let’s look at the pros and cons of Google Glass.

Fashion Statement

The glasses certainly have a look-at-me factor and Google has really made the effort to streamline and minimalize the glasses aesthetics since they were released. Google will hope that they can turn the glasses in to something cool and trendy, akin to iPod earphones for instance.

The downside is that generally people tend only to wear glasses when they have to. How many will want to do so when they don’t. Also, there is a touch of the geek to them – so, how many will want to showcase their nerd credentials for all to see?

Practical

Instead of having to reach into your pocket or purse and check what’s going on – all the information is there in front of you. This means you can keep up with social media, receive texts, follow maps easily and make calls all without having to hold a phone.

The downside is one that many people are asking – where’s the battery. Smartphone batteries are not small by any means, so how does Google glass remain powered? Nightmare scenario – you have to wear a battery and connect it from the waist to the glasses.

Knowledge

We have all the knowledge we need, not at our fingertips, but actually right in front of our eyes and all of it is voice controlled. This technology could really benefit those with physical or mental challenges.

The negative of this is that you are always in touch with a screen. Unless you take the glasses off, there is no way that you can escape the digital world. With so many people complaining of digital burnout, is this the next step and do we want or need it?

Mobile

Hands-free computing may allow us greater freedom in a number of ways. For instance, without the need to hold a phone it may be okay to drive again while making a call. It’s also great to be able to speak to the search engine directly and find out what’s on in the city you’re heading to.

Of course this has added to fears that Google glass is the next big step towards some sort of Orwellian future. Google’s data services would be more deeply ingrained in our daily lives and take on a number of more personal forms. We could end up with significant privacy issues.

Google’s Glass is still a couple of years from common use; however it’s interesting to see the issues that may come to the fore.

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