Google Glass Might Change The Way We Live & Connect To One Another

March 31, 2014 by Jeff Roberts. //http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/03/31/google-glass-might-change-the-way-we-live-and-connect-to-one-another/
                                         

Walking outside, it doesn’t take long before we see someone with their head down and ear phones in while zoning-out to their smartphone. It is apparent to most that a large sense of disconnect exists in our world today due to peoples’ insistent habit of being lost in their hand-held reality. Whether we are walking, on a bus, plane, subway, or car ride, you can almost always bet someone is going to be looking at their phone rather than engaging in common social etiquette. This was part of the motive behind Google’s newest tech development, states Sergey Brin in a Ted Talk video titled “Why Google Glass?”

Sergey Brin in one of his Ted Talk videos revealing Google Glass to the world.

In the Ted Talk, Brin pulls out his phone and makes a joke about answering a text from the Prince of Nigeria.  Brin discusses with the audience the technological crisis that has come as a subsequent of the newest generation of smart phone consumerism,

“In all seriousness, this position that you just saw me in, looking down at my phone, is one of the reasons behind this project, Project Glass. We question whether this is the ultimate future of how you want to connect to other people in your life, or connecting to information, should it by walking around and looking down? That was the vision behind Glass.”

Brin goes on to pull out a pair of sleek clear glasses.

“That was the vision behind this form. In addition to potentially socially isolating yourself when you’re out and about looking at your phone, [the question also begs] is this what you are meant to do with your body?”

Brin elaborates on the idea of our phone being a “nervous habit,” a means to bypass moments of social discomfort. Often time, rather than engaging in eye contact with someone, it is a common habit for many to look down at their phone instead.

“In this case, I sit there and look like I have something important to attend to, but it really opened my eyes to how much of my life I spent secluding [myself] away in emails or a social post, even though they weren’t that important.”

In short, Google Glass is a portable computer, moulded into an eyewear form, which by voice command allows its user to record videos, chat, snap pictures, and much more. Basically you ask a question, Google Glass answers, projecting it onto the glass prism directly in front of your eyes. If you are wondering if this distracts the user from their front-sighted view, videos and projections show up to the top-right of the screen.

Interestingly, and perhaps creepy to some, is the audio feature. If you aren’t using an accessory, Google Glass’s audio feedback happens through a bone conduction transducer that sits above (and a little behind) your right ear. That little transducer sends vibrations through your skull, a sensation similar to having a little speaker sitting near your right ear. The only difference is that other people nearby won’t hear much out of it.

Like most of the early smartwatches, Glass isn’t a smartphone replacement. It’s more of a smartphone accessory, requiring a phone’s Bluetooth connection for on-the-go-data (it can also connect directly to a Wi-Fi network). Right now Android phones work better with Glass than iPhones, as Apple’s restrictions prevent the MyGlass companion app from letting you send or receive SMS through Glass.

Google Glass is still a Beta product, which means that it will most likely undergo many changes before it is released commercially this year. Although the product has some kinks to work out, many have marked it as one to keep a close eye on in 2014.

Sergey Brin: Why Google Glass?