Google's latest innovation is undoubtedly the future of mobile computing. But this hands-free smart device working on voice commands clicks, captures, records, and shares at the utterance of a few words also raises privacy concerns. dna explores whether one is comfortable about being stalked and under the constant surveillance of this headgear.
What is Google Glass?
Google Glass is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display that is developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.
Features
Google Glass will take a picture or record a video once you give the voice command without needing you to touch the hardware. The photos and videos are stored on the 4GB flash memory of the device, and can also be shared on social networking websites or emailed.
It will show you text messages and emails and allow you to reply to them via voice commands.
Googling is easy as one simply needs to ask a question and the device will pull the answer from the Internet.
It can show the world what you are seeing live. If are at a party, you can share it with your friends through live feeds.
Google Maps are integrated into Glass to help users to chart the course of their journey or look up locations.
Google Glass is not a breakthrough in terms of technology
Different people perceive privacy differently. The earlier generation would have found the idea of sharing information publicly an unacceptable one but the current generation does it easily. With the growth of the Internet, the definition of privacy has changed.
There must be norms for the use of Google Glass, especially in India, where there has been a spate of crimes against women. While there is a genuine risk of the technology being misused, we must also be open to the idea that it can be used for good things too.
Google Glass is not a breakthrough in terms of technology, but only in terms of convenience.
Sadhana Ghalsasi, IT professor
When the price of Google Glass falls, it will become popular
Google Glass reflects the progression of technology in the last 10 years. From computers to laptops and cellphones and tablets to a time where one can search the Internet with your glasses. In the day-to-day life, it will definitely help and not harm or hinder in any way.
Information is the basic tool of the modern society and Google Glass will help a person gather that information easily. One major problem is that the cost of Google Glass in India will be very high. It will be around Rs60,000 to Rs70,000 which only a small select audience can afford. Over time, as the price of Google Glass falls, it will become popular.
Amod Joshi, IT professional
Google Glass will boost interaction between people
Google Glass is not an invasion of privacy. When you meet someone, you can google and find out all about his or her details. Google is only going to put this on the Glass and you can do the search in real time and immediately. Those people, who do not want to share information about themselves are free to do so. One can structure one’s account on LinkedIn or Facebook in such a way that your full details are not open to the public.
There are bound to be some problems and minus points with any new technology, but that does not mean that the technology is bad. One can use the Internet to search for knowledge or pornography. The attempts to ban Google Glass in some places in the US and UK are bad. If someone wants to take a picture of you without your permission, he or she can do so already using a cellphone. Google Glass will boost the interaction between people.
BV Harish Kumar, website owner
Its use will add to the Internet being a wireless interface
The concerns about privacy are valid. We will have to wait and see how the privacy issue plays out once Glass hits the market. If it is found to be an invasion of privacy, then we can come to some consensus and decide on the norms regarding its use. One can take photos of anybody using cellphones. You do not need somebody’s permission for it. There is nothing wrong with some restaurants and clubs in the US and the UK banning the Glass.
We must not try to regulate the use of Google Glass. Its development is a sign that we are moving in the direction of an ubiquitous and all-pervasive Internet usage. The Internet is now moving towards a more wireless interface. Technology is becoming wearable. The popularity of Google Glass will be high in cities like Pune and Bangalore and Hyderabad, because of its large IT population. However, its high cost will mean that it will take time for the technology to become a popular product.
J Ramanand, software researcher
This technology could be of tremendous use to the disabled
Any new technology has plus and minus points. If we make the privacy issue a big thing, then it will not be good because in future innovative products will refrain from entering the Indian market. This will be a big loss to us as we are strong in the service sector rather than the product sector. The solution to the privacy issue is to create awareness about the existence of such a product.
The benefits of this technology is its utility, convenience and ability to help the user. The price of it is also not a major barrier contrary to the popular perception. Even if we assume that in rupee terms, it will cost Rs50,000, there can be EMIs of Rs5,000 each for 10 months. There will be plenty of demand for it if Google gets its pricing model right. This technology could be of tremendous use to the disabled whose needs are being ignored.
We could see the Google Glasses becoming a lifestyle statement or a status symbol, especially among the youth.
Dr Radhakrishnan Raman, director, Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology
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