If you thought the NSA was too invasive by tracking your phone calls and emails, wait until you see what happens when everyone starts wearing Google Glass. Currently being tested by so-called Glass Explorers, Google Glass is expected to hit the market in April 2014. Google has a great demonstration page which shows stunning videos and photos supposedly taken with Google Glass, all presented in beautiful HiDef with appropriately uplifting music. Based on the number of people who are willing to stand outside an Apple store for days every time that company hiccups, one can assume there will be a similar rush to be the first Google Glass customers.
Before anyone starts planning to sleep outside to buy these glasses, though, some people are already casting a wary eye on the product. Even in preliminary testing phases, Google Glass has opened a Pandora's Box of legal concerns. If it does become the next big thing in wearable technology, what are the ramifications for intellectual property and personal privacy when somebody can secretly film or take a picture of you with, literally, the wink of an eye? It's not bad enough to see what stupid things people post when using one hand with a cell phone; what will happen when they are given glasses that make it possible for them to be even stupider with two hands? Google responded by making modifications that would make this harder to do, but hackers will be only too happy to quickly find ways around those measures.
Some bars and restaurants are beginning to ban Google Glass and that is only the first salve in the privacy wars. Should movie theaters and concert venues try to ban them as well to prevent unauthorized sales? Paparazzi will especially love the ability to out celebrities no matter where they are.
Another potentially-dangerous legal question around Google Glass is using it to access turn-by-turn navigation while driving.
All these makes me think... Do we really want Google Glass to be a part of our daily life?
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