Wednesdays without Will: Google Glass

Seen anyone sporting some nifty new glasses lately? They maybe beta testing Google’s revolutionary product.

Google’s latest project, Google Glass, is essentially a wearable computer in the form of a thin headset. The design features a tiny screen and built-in camera fixed just above the wearer’s right eye. Functioning like a voice-controlled smartphone, it does everything from taking photos and videos to searching the internet. The innovation lies in that instead of looking down at your phone for all this information, it appears digitally before your eyes. Check out this promo video for the full experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQZNg2vE

In an interview discussing the inspiration behind the hands-free product, Google Glass project director Steve Lee said that one of the problems with current technology is that it “creates distraction and takes you out of the moment.” But isn’t it equally, if not more, distracting to have a screen literally attached to your face?

As technology these days tends to do, Google Glass allows the user to cut corners in daily activities. For example, a user can send an email using only his or her voice (Google Voice technology transcribes the spoken words and sends the message at the user’s command). The device can also pull up and read aloud headlines and news articles. These features can turn a time-wasting commute into a productive part of the day. Google Glass certainly has potential for marketers whose consumers who constantly have a digital screen in front of their face.

Not surprisingly, this product has generated a considerable amount of attention. Some say it’s revolutionary; others think we should fear it. If you couldn’t already tell, I’m siding with the latter. With the introduction of a device that distorts the line between virtual and real life, it is possible we are in fact becoming less connected. How can human interaction be possible if each person has a personal screen hovering in front of her face? We’ll have to wait and see what happens when this product hits the market.

Google Glass is scheduled to become available to consumers by the end of 2013 at $1,500 a piece. Will you buy one?

Cover Photo Source: Giuseppe Costantino via Flickr

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://wpmaster.sjadv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Our-Space-The-San-Jose-Group.png[/author_image] [author_info] Leora is a Junior Executive at SJG. She is a native Chicagoan who is currently working toward obtaining a BA from Washington University in St. Louis. Outside the office, her favorite things include reading, live music and travel.[/author]