Slashdot Mirror


Google Forbids Advertising On Glass

An anonymous reader writes "Contrary to widespread thought, Google Glass will not be an advertising platform: 'Google Inc has lately told app developers that they are not allowed to present ads to Google Glass users and they are also not permitted to sell users' personal and private information for the fulfillment of advertising needs. The internet company has explicitly and openly said that the Glass platform should and must be clean and clear of any ads whatsoever, because the technology is designed to facilitate internet browsing and other related activities, therefore, the featured podium cannot be used to advertise products as it will cause the user experience to diminish.' Seems like Google is going for hardware-only revenue on this one." You're not supposed to resell the Glass hardware, either.

4 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Just means they will make their money another w by Dr.Dubious+DDQ · · Score: 1, Troll
    "They will have access to search and activity data combined with a feed that shows people's whereabouts and habits. This marketing data will be worth way more than any direct advertising."

    Bingo. Hence the "no resale, renting, lending, letting other people touch, etc." provisions in their "agreement" - this device appears to be intended to "train" users to be happy sending all of their information to Google, but this requires Google to be able to always "know" who is using which device at all times in order for the data to be fully useful to them (for "personalization", of course.)

    In other words, this is like Facebook(tm), but even more so (and you have to pay $1500 for the honor of feeding Google's files on your behavior, which helps the illusion that THEY are giving YOU something, and not vice-versa.)

  2. Re:Just means they will make their money another w by tlhIngan · · Score: 1, Troll

    I have a hard time believing that they will make all their revenue on hardware alone. They will have access to search and activity data combined with a feed that shows people's whereabouts and habits. This marketing data will be worth way more than any direct advertising.

    No, Google is not using Glass to sell the OWNERS of Glass ads. That might happen eventually, but a more valuable service is being performed by Glass owners for Google. Namely the gather of information on other people THROUGH your glass. Sell an ad for Glass - you just get the owner, who's just a tiny part of the population. However, that person may encounter hundreds of people on the street daily - gathering information on them would generate far more returns.

    After all, Google has already announced they'll identify people based on their faces and clothing, and probably use that information to tie into what they already have on you (matching you captured with your Google account, say).

    A Glass user walks to a restaurant for lunch and casually ends up scanning all the patrons. Google now can sell ads to competing restaurants and deals for that restaurant to all those people.

    Naturally, you cannot hinder the adoption of Glass by having developers spew ads at users - it will kill Glass

  3. Re:Just means they will make their money another w by BasilBrush · · Score: 1, Troll

    google has been about the green valley with large high hills

    ... the incinerator at one end, the toxic waste dump at the other, and a highway lined with billboards between the two. But it's not as expensive to live there as somewhere nice.

  4. Re:Just means they will make their money another w by BasilBrush · · Score: 0, Troll

    For glass they get all sorts of services delivered in real time in a non-obtrusive but always visible way.

    Non obtrusive? How more obtrusive can it get than a camera and a video screen stuck on someone's face.

    I don't know anyone that would find it acceptable to converse with an asshole wearing one of these.

    Glasshole.