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Eric Schmidt: Google Glass Critics 'Afraid of Change,' Society Will Adapt

curtwoodward writes "Eric Schmidt came to Harvard this week to discuss his new book, but many students really wanted to know more about the implications for privacy and social interaction once Google Glass starts hitting the market. Schmidt cautioned against jumping to the worst conclusions, saying that society always tends to adapt to new technologies — and he's hoping for etiquette rather than government regulation. Of course, that's what you would say if you used to run a company that has been fined and paid settlements to regulators for the way it scoops up data and tracks users. But Schmidt also doesn't have much patience for critics: 'Criticisms are inevitably from people who are afraid of change, or who have not figured out that there will be an adaptation of society.'"

20 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. Segway by kk49 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...

    --
    You can have your god back when you are old enough to handle the responsibility.
    1. Re:Segway by niftydude · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This. Society picks up the changes it wants, and discards the ones it doesn't, and keeps on rolling.

      Just because the Schmidt spent millions of dollars developing a product doesn't mean it will be a success - only time will tell that. The Segway didn't crack the market, and google glass might not.

      Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind something like a ruggedized google glass for snow boarding, long distance running, or other sporting activities where you want to track things like speed, heart rate etc, but I can't see myself wearing something like that on a daily basis just to walk around town.

      But maybe there is a segment of society that needs to know the location of the nearest burger joint stat, and doesn't have the attention span to remember how to get there without walking into walls unless the directions are drip fed to them every 5 seconds. There are certainly many other multi-billion dollar industries out there from which I have never bought a single product.

      --
      You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
    2. Re:Segway by DJRumpy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think his comment was aimed more at those who simply don't want to be recorded 24x7. Although this is becoming the norm in some of the larger metro areas across it's not all that common in the U.S for example.

      I actually find I'm not all that comfortable with it either and I'm no criminal. It just has a bit of a creepy vibe that's hard to ignore.

      It's also hard to ignore Google primary business profit motive. Couple that with these, and the likely place that these sorts of clips, photos, and video's will end up, and it just turns me off to the idea.

      My personal opinion, but it is what it is.

  2. Big words... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... coming from a man who only has to be a part of this "society" when it suits him. He's not subject to the surveillance culture since he can hang out in his private office or home.

    Oh, by the way, people who are afraid of drones being used by the public are just afraid of change. You should totally try to adapt.

    Captcha: Infringe

    1. Re:Big words... by martin-boundary · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Let's not forget that he (Google's Eric Schmidt) is a vindictive bastard, too. When CNET journalists dug out some publically available information on him personally, (read for yourself) he attacked their livelihood by banning them from talking with the whole of Google for a year.

      Frankly, he's a bit of a loose cannon, if I was a Google executive, I'd think about ways to muzzle him.

  3. Google Glass is the new Segway by DontScotty · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Radical Change Product= Radical Change Product

    Where can it be used legally? = Where can it be used legally?

    How comfortable are people going to be when they see you have one and they don't? = How comfortable are people going to be when they see you have one and they don't?

    Kinda Spend y - people who can't afford it will be all sour grapes. :-)

    1. Re:Google Glass is the new Segway by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I like the idea of running up to people and shouting "safe surfing off", "open ten tabs with pictures of goatse and tub girl", "glass, send e-mail to boss, include link to lemon party.com. send now.",

      --
      Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    2. Re:Google Glass is the new Segway by davester666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's lemonparty.ORG!

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    3. Re:Google Glass is the new Segway by BasilBrush · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You know they said the same things about bluetooth headsets. People will think you are crazy!

      People DO think you're crazy when you wear one. And an asshole.

  4. Sure society may adapt ... by Trongy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    to Google Glass, but it will never adapt to privately owned drones.

  5. Change... by pitchpipe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

    If this is your definition of change, you can shove it up your ass.

    --
    Look where all this talking got us, baby.
    1. Re:Change... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ah, but if you have something that you don't want anyone to fly a drone over, well, there just may have to be some regulations of drones...

    2. Re:Change... by houstonbofh · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

      If this is your definition of change, you can shove it up your ass.

      Yeah... If he believes that, when is he putting the web cam in his shower?

  6. Pay attention to Eric by Required+Snark · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Your owner has spoken. It is your responsibility to obey his commands. If you do not, his operation will extract vengeance.

    Welcome to your new position as a lowly serf in the new digital order. Shut up and do as you are told.

    --
    Why is Snark Required?
  7. criticisms by iamnobody2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    glass is a very worrying invention. no expectation of privacy in public is very different then lots of people being able to record everything they see. wait 'til a bunch of peeping tom videos start appearing, or people taking videos of kids on the beach, or until someone with glass gets shot because a dealer thinks they might have recorded that drug deal. the surveillance we have now, we can at least vaguely hope no one is using it for fap material, or won't put it out to embarrass us. does your nose itch? better not scratch it, there's three people with google glass over there and you'd hate for them to record it and put it up on youtube looking like you're picking your nose. is there even a light showing people that its recording? laptops sometimes have those, that'd be something at least

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    nobody's perfect
    1. Re:criticisms by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The problem isn't being seen in public. It's being seen in public, and identified. And possibly doing something controversial.

      First - identification. Google has already announced plans to use facial and clothing recognition to put faves to names (and their Google accounts). Now, whether or not the Glass user gets this information is irrelevant. It just means Google now knows where you are every minute of every day. All it takes is for some Glass user to capture you in the camera.

      Next, imagine his argument of busybodies. He's afraid of drones flying over his house because it infringes on his rights to do as he pleases. But how about you? Not a problem.

      And don't forget what having all that information tied to you is worth. Insurance companies would love to know what you buy at the supermarket - do you buy chips and pop, or fruits and vegetables? Your heath insurance premiums may depend on it. (Remember how we argue this with supermarket loyalty cards? Glass will be even more accurate).

      Nevermind busybodies who keep track of people who buy videogames (videogames cause violence!), alcohol (alcohol abuse! drunk driving!, prohibition!), adult stores, abortion clinics, etc.

  8. Re:Afraid of change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Or the way people used to get annoyed by others using their cell phones in movie theaters. Now we've adapted, and know those old complaints were just fear of change.

  9. Re:Change? by spd_rcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't know about niche needs. I know my use of a hud for motorcycle turn by turn directions would be niche, but I'm pretty sure Google's intentions are anything but. By convincing people to record and upload more data from more personal places, they're looking to greatly expand their data mining. I don't know about "don't be evil", I think their new moto is "just don't be obvious".

    --
    - tensions in our lives that are attacking our minds, unite themselves together to make our consciousness blind - op'ivy
  10. Re:The problem is not the product itself by tlambert · · Score: 4, Informative

    So where does that lead us to? A device which watches us all, which sends much of that data to central services provided by Google, where that data will most likely be stored and can most likely be accessed by law enforcement agencies.

    This is often repeated, but realize that it can't record all the time. There's not enough CPU power, storage, or always-on network connectivity. This was an intentional decision to get it into the form factor at the right price point. Typically it's for still pictures and streaming really tiny pictures over Google Talk. If your strip club or movie theatre has WiFi in it and allows you to access in the venue, you might end up streaming postage stamps to people, at best.

    Plus it will be pretty obvious when you take pictures, since you have to touch it active and say "Glass, take picture". The bouncer will likely throw you out at that point.

    It basically doesn't do any more that your ordinary cell phone, and people pretend to text with those while filiming, and they have better net connectivity and local storage, even with no WiFi access.

  11. Re:Honest question... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because you could do something stupid. Everyone has the odd accident every now and then, a glass tipped, a spot of ice on the road where you slip, and let's not forget the good ol' split pants. Yes, these moments can be kinda embarrassing, but they're passing. A few people may see you try to keep your rear end covered as you do your best to get home without being seen, and it's horrible the moment it happens, but afterwards it's over. Some people may laugh about it, but it is forgotten 10 minutes later.

    Not so with the internet.

    All it takes is you wearing some kind of odd underwear or ... hell, whatever. Freak accidents happen. You slip, try to steady yourself with the table, knock it over, trip the cupboard with all the cake... you get the idea.

    How long 'til it's a meme?

    It will be embellished with some added photoshop pics and clever editing, making it look like your accident eventually tripped some nuke or something. I have to admit, my imagination for such things is a bit limited, but I guess everyone here can come up with at least one clever thing to do with it. 1% thereof might be funny enough to catch on.

    Now multiply with a few million internet users.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.