Slashdot Mirror
Are We Socially Ready For Wearable Computing?
An anonymous reader writes "Smart watches have arrived, and Google Glass is on its way. As early-adopters start to gain some experience with these devices, they're learning some interesting lessons about how wearable computing affects our behavior differently from even smartphones and tablets. Vint Cerf says, 'Our social conventions have not kept up with the technology.' Right now, it's considered impolite to talk on your cellphone while checking out at the grocery store, or to ignore a face-to-face conversation in favor of texting somebody. But 20 years ago, those actions weren't even on our social radar. Wearable devices create some obvious social problems, like the aversion to Glass's ever-present camera. But there are subtler ones, as well, for which we'll need to develop another set of social norms. A Pebble smart watch user gave an example: 'People thought I was being rude and checking the time constantly when I was really monitoring incoming messages. It sent the wrong signal.' The article continues, 'Therein lies the wearables conundrum. You can put a phone away and choose not to use it. You can turn to it with permission if you're so inclined. Wearables provide no opportunity for pause, as their interruptions tend to be fairly continuous, and the interaction is more physical (an averted glance or a vibration directly on your arm). It's nearly impossible to train yourself to avoid the reflex-like response of interacting. By comparison, a cell phone is away (in your pocket, on a table) and has to be reached for.'"
Next !!
If you are monitoring incoming message while you are with other people you ARE being rude.
I wear a pager for work (hospital environment). When there, everyone knows exactly why I'm checking it immediately if it goes off. When there or elsewhere, I apologize for checking it by saying, "Sorry, I'm on call. I need to check this." Usually they ask if I need to take it. If I don't, I tell them someone else will get it (we blast to the entire group). If I do, I tell them I'll get it when we're finished. Yes, the stuff I work on is that time critical. 5 minutes can be, and has been, the difference between getting the parts I need that day and getting them back up, or them being down an extra day. I think the key is to tell your audience what's going on instead of just tuning them out.
personally, what I want is the Social Analyzer like in Deus Ex. That was the most useful, though exploitative augmentation, in the whole game. Imagine a thermal polygraph, pupil response tracker, and directional microphone for detecting subtle changes in the body caused by subconsious reaction. Now include the ability to build a psych profile based off of a person's social networking data and Current behavior modeling. For the third element, include data from all previous interactions that you have had involving that person to create a framework for any sort of manipulation you want to do. The last is an artificial pheremone delivery system, which can be used to directly manipulate the other person at the biological level.
take something like that with a direct retinal display, and you got something scary.
Here is my system for not being rude in today's "Tech-enhanced society":
I'll stick my phone in my pocket when I'm speaking with someone. It stays there, untouched, with the following exceptions:
1. Phone rings - I reach down in my pocket without breaking the conversation and tap a button to silence the call. Often I include "Excuse me." while I perform the action. I can check the call number later.
2. Phone rings again almost immediately - I tell the person, "It seems like someone really needs to get ahold of me. Please excuse me for a moment."
Pretty much anything else I'll leave to a 'Bathroom Break'.
Seems to be a courteous approach to me.
Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj