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Google Glass is Still Around (nymag.com)

Google may have discontinued the sale of Google Glass years ago, but die hard fans have not given up. From a report: Glassholes still exist, just not as boogeymen haunting the tech section of your newspaper. There's a small group of fans still talking and updating and buying and selling on Reddit. Somebody who picked up a pair for $150 and wants help using the device to display sheet music; somebody with questions about installing an older operating system onto Glass Enterprise; another person looking for foldable frames; somebody else trying to fix a broken device; people looking to buy, as well as a number of people asking if it's even worth it to spend any money on the now-defunct tech. (Spoiler: survey says it's not.) There is also, weirdly, somebody asking if Google nixed Google Glass "because 'someone' was made aware of the book 'The Circle' by Dave Eggers?"

Reading through the forum, it seems wrong to regard the dwindling frequenters of /r/googleglass as Glassholes. On the contrary, they seem to bust out their devices at incredibly appropriate moments. "I pretty much only use Glass for taking pictures/video while running/hiking or anywhere I don't have access to a phone or don't want to carry one," writes one Redditor. "It's a great way to capture highlights of a marathon, for instance, without having to stop and pull out a phone." "Text notifications. Phone calls whilst driving, pix and video while on the go," writes another.

70 comments

  1. Driving by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While driving? How about you don't!

    1. Re:Driving by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      It's better for the person to use the phone in their lap or the center console of the car?

      Heads up displays are better than heads-down, all else being equal.

  2. Local hospital by commoncause · · Score: 2

    The walk-in services part of one of my local hospitals has some doctors use Google Glass. It is great for several reasons. The doctor can focus on care while an associate that has eyes on a computer screen can do 2 things to help the whole process: deal with documentation and provide research into records info as needed. It is really a good fit for healthcare in this way. They see 100's of patients a day at the walk-in services location, this saves time for the doctor, they don't have to write up very much and they just review what was written to refine/correct/accept the docs and move onto the next patient. I hope Google Glass, or very similar, stays around for this simple reason.

    1. Re:Local hospital by Vanyle · · Score: 2

      Just what I need, my Proctologist to have a camera that can upload to youtube with an accidental click....

    2. Re: Local hospital by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Itâ(TM)s so great that you need to go to a subreddit to buy a used one or to do DIY repairs.

    3. Re:Local hospital by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      The walk-in services part of one of my local hospitals has some doctors use Google Glass. It is great for several reasons. The doctor can focus on care while an associate that has eyes on a computer screen can do 2 things to help the whole process: deal with documentation and provide research into records info as needed. It is really a good fit for healthcare in this way. They see 100's of patients a day at the walk-in services location, this saves time for the doctor, they don't have to write up very much and they just review what was written to refine/correct/accept the docs and move onto the next patient. I hope Google Glass, or very similar, stays around for this simple reason.

      It should hang around, the technology is useful. What wasn't useful was putting it in the hands of the ordinary public who started (mis)using it in ways that pretty much destroyed any positive aspect it may have in the public's eye.

      And there's a lot of technology like that - take cellphones for instance. The loudmouth talker is still an image we have of someone using a cellphone, and the image persists so readily that any thought of allowing cellphone use on planes immediately brings up that image and how even more miserable flying will be. (And it's not like they don't have a point - after all, we encounter said loudmouths on a daily basis

      It's no longer if the technology exists, but rather if it should be put in the hands of the public

    4. Re:Local hospital by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 1

      It isn't going to disappear. Its current incarnation is technically inadequate for widespread adoption. However the technology to do it well is not that far out.

      Glassholes are dead, long live glassholes.

    5. Re:Local hospital by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      What? That makes no sense. How would Google Glass help with documentation or research. Give me a break.

    6. Re:Local hospital by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      The fearmongering killed google glass before it got out of beta. TFA talks about legislators in West Virginia trying to outlaw it, but fails to mention that the those legislators had never touched or used the device.

  3. Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am a photographer. I'm often surprised at how camera shy people are, considering that they are being photographed and under video surveillance nearly constantly when in public. Nevertheless, I still ask permission most of the time when taking candid shots of people and I can tell you that they fully expect you to do so or they will get pissed very fast. There are good reasons people act like this, though. So, I imagine the same is true about "Glass" since it's a real live person there videotaping you.

    1. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "glassholes" is the word given to those who do not ask permission.

    2. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by pak9rabid · · Score: 1

      As the old saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. If it's not obvious somebody is being recorded, then they don't think about it and hence don't get nervous about being recorded.

    3. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one looks at surveillance videos unless there's an incident. Photographs are looked at by people. Mostly to be critiqued. That's why they hate you.

    4. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm often surprised at how camera shy people are, considering that they are being photographed and under video surveillance nearly constantly when in public.

      To put it simply, being photographed/videotaped on a shitty surveillance system whose hard drive can't hold more than a day if you're lucky is different than some sketchy motherfucker snapping pictures on $8k worth of prosumer gear.

    5. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      As a photographer, should you be surprised? People don't like lenses pointed at them, even amateurs know that.

      People are also unaware of the degree to which they are subject to surveillance so, even if is as pervasive as you say, that would not change their discomfort.

      At least it's good you realize that a constant "surveillance state", that you claim exists, doesn't give you the right to intrude in people's space. People like their privacy respected even if they don't have a right to demand it in public.

    6. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I remember a story, probably on the radio, a photographer in interview:
      "I'm in a bookstore, in the 'Photo books' section, a women is looking at a book: photos of hands, which have only pictures of all kinds on hands taken 'on the spot' in all kinds of situation. She is holding the book in such a fashion that we can see her hands around the book with the title showing. The photograph takes a picture if this unique moment: only her hands and the book. The lady starts complaining: "How dare you take my hands in picture". The photograph replied: "Lady, ... put that book down. You have no business in looking at that book. Put it down NOW."

      I'm camera shy and can understand why others are. It's hard to explain. But that story really made me rethink and change... a little.

      Thank you to all photographers for your art. I love it more than so many art forms. I'm so happy for screen backgrounds that let me so many beautiful things everyday.

    7. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, can't everyone just give up and love big brother. Love is stronger than hate, losers!

    8. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When a human points a camera at someone, it's for a deliberate purpose. That image is likely to be used for something.
      On the other hand, that surveillance camera footage is almost certain to be deleted without a human ever looking at it.

      Most people understand this, and dislike being used by humans more than incidental transient machine capture.

    9. Re: Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, "glasshole" is a term used by people who hate Google, or technology in general, or have a massive case of jealousy and a huge narcissistic inferiority complex.

    10. Re: Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so basically apple wackjobs,

    11. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How dare them desire privacy, it's clear we must obscure all surveillance so they are unaware of it.

    12. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I'm often surprised at how camera shy people are, considering that they are being photographed and under video surveillance nearly constantly when in public.

      Intent! People being photographed by a security camera to end up in some generic filing cabinet by some generic government or company unlikely to ever actually review said footage is quite different from a specific person pointing a specific camera into your face.

    13. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by thegarbz · · Score: 0

      No "glasshole" is a generic term idiots gave to google glass users without actually ever asking them what they were doing or if they were recording.

    14. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      People object more when they are the subject of the photo. If they are just there in the background when you take a selfie or snapshot some landmark they don't care so much.

      They haven't caught up with technology like Facebook that can identify and tag them automatically yet.

      Google assumed that having Glass was just like having a smartphone with a camera. People assumed that having Glass was like pointing a camera at them.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    15. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Drethon · · Score: 1

      How dare them desire privacy, it's clear we must obscure all surveillance so they are unaware of it.

      Desire privacy is fine, expect privacy in a public setting is concerning to me. I mean, people seems to still be surprised when they post on public sites and get caught out? https://www.google.com/search?...

    16. Re:Camera shyness is worse when a person holds it by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      Yep. I don't think Google counted on that happening (people feeling "filmed"). Of course, one of the biggest issues is that there is basically this obvious camera right next to your eye (where many folks are looking) as you walk & talk to everyone. I honestly think that, even though people will hate it and it'll be illegal in some places, the future will involve hiding the cameras so that the user gets more mileage out of their AR viewing. The whole point of a glasshole is that they violate your rights (or at least that's the claim) to make life easier for them. So, whoever succeeds at the wearable computing + AR bit will probably need to go stealth to fully succeed. Just a thought, anyhow.

  4. Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by foxalopex · · Score: 1

    The actual concept behind Google Glasses wasn't a bad idea par say. There are a lot of people who want overlay smart video technology. For something such as Car Navigation where it virtually pops up an arrow or indicator in your vision for where to go is a lot better for example than having people look at their GPS and then crash into things or people! Unfortunately both the ability to miniaturize this technology and battery isn't quite there yet so it was more of a test concept than a real device.

    1. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The actual concept behind Google Glasses wasn't a bad idea par say. There are a lot of people who want overlay smart video technology. For something such as Car Navigation where it virtually pops up an arrow or indicator in your vision for where to go is a lot better for example than having people look at their GPS and then crash into things or people! Unfortunately both the ability to miniaturize this technology and battery isn't quite there yet so it was more of a test concept than a real device.

      It was the built-in camera that killed it. People don't like someone pointing a camera at them the entire time, especially at very close range like during a conversation. Add that there was no obvious indicator of when it was recording or not and no shutter to reassure those who don't want a camera shoved in their face and that made it very creepy and annoying.

    2. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      yet I can walk around with my smart phone recording away, either up near my face like i am reading something on it; or just in hand down near my hip recording both what is in front of me and behind me with NO INDICATION at all. I use this all the time when I do walks around building for security audits. If you have something that looks camera like suddenly everyone is locking their desktops; ensuring their privacy screens are over their monitors like they are supposed to be; putting their badges back in their pockets rather than leaving them out on their desks etc... On a little discretion with the smart phone OOTH and you can bust people left and right...

      Its almost like people don't really EVERYONE is walking around with good quality video cameras all the time now, and the ability to record for hours...

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    3. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by mark-t · · Score: 1

      What's your take on when the technology exists to directly interface to the human brain and just record anything that a person sees or hears?

      Would you suggest that a person who is hooked up to such a whole-life recorder should also be treated as somebody who wants to invade on everybody's privacy?

    4. Re: Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Anonymous person here. No offense intended, just trying to be helpful. The phrase is "per se", not par say. Just a little pedantry so that you can improve the appearance of your posts in the future. Have a good day!

    5. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the problem really has to be explained to you repeatedly then it's become clear that you're one of the glassholes yourself. At this point it becomes simpler to just shun your kind from polite society.

    6. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yet I can walk around with my smart phone recording away,

      -

      Do that shit to me and I will destroy your phone on the spot.

      17 years of martial arts training says you won't be able to stop me doing it, either, mister.

    7. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's your take on when the technology exists to directly interface to the human brain and just record anything that a person sees or hears?

      .

      My take is that you're a person who engages in mental masturbation wondering about stuff that may not ever exist.

      And if it does come into existence while I am still alive, the person who uses it to record me is going to get their ass stomped into the concrete,
      while I am wearing a fabric mask which will defeat the face-reco which will be part of the device.

    8. Re: Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that brain hookup goes directly to Google then I reserve the right to gouge your loser eyes out. Which part of people not wanting a cloud surveillance company to be uploading videos of me and mine without my permission donâ(TM)t you fucking understand?

    9. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by mark-t · · Score: 1

      What makes you think you'd know how to tell who had such tech?

      And what makes you think that somebody who happens to be using it is remotely interested in you in the first place? They aren't using it to record *you*, they are using it to record their own experiences, presumably to later catalogue them and store the more interesting events that might have happened, especially those that they don't realize they might have a need to recall with some accuracy until after the event has already occurred.

      Yeah, it might get uploaded to a cloud somewhere, but so what? What are you so afraid of somebody seeing (when they aren't even interested in you in the first place, I might add) that you'd be willing to debase yourself to commit gross violence for some sort of perceived violation of your rights that is actually all in your own head?

    10. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      I mean, have fun in court with that. Hopefully paying for the replacement phone is less than the satisfaction you get from breaking someone's personal property.

    11. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "The actual concept behind Google Glasses wasn't a bad idea par say."

      "per se", numbnuts. If you're trying to impress the plebes with your command of Latin phrases, try again...

    12. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a funcking hypocrite, you are.

    13. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's you major malfunction? It's probably perfectly legal there to record in public, so you are the one being an asshole.

    14. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      I want to place some emphasis here that I am not recording in public. I am recording as directed to do so within the confines of a private building at a private business in specific places within said building that are designated secure areas. Employees who work in these areas have agreed to follow a number of rules and agreed to various conditions such as "you may be recorded at anytime while on the floor" as a condition of employment there.

      My point was simply that the objection people had to Google Glass, 6 years ago is largely moot. There is absolutely no social prohibition now on caring a smart phone and using it just about everywhere in public. If one is not a total putz its easily possible to record most things discretely using that device. The fear people had that glass users were recording them, is really silly unless you have similar reactions everytime an smart phone emerges from a purse or pocket.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    15. Re:Actual concept not bad, just not possible yet by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      Do that shit to me and I will destroy your phone on the spot.

      ... and then you'll arrest me for interfering with a police officer, beat the crap out of me on the way to the station, lock me up, and see the charges thrown out when it gets in front of a judge.

      Have a nice day, officer.

  5. Different resolution and level of detail. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the past all that surveillance footage just went in the rubbish heap unless they were actively looking for a shoplifter, criminal, etc. Furthermore it was of such low quality you could rarely identify a person after the fact, unless they were looking up at the camera or their face was completely unobscured.

    Today however, a lot of that footage may be stored in the cloud somewhere, and most people are more concerned with facebook/google/etc getting their likeness in public for free and being able to analyze and categorized their locations, activity, etc without their permission or consent. Or have their likeness in a controversial shot that might disrupt their home or work life, like being associated with a controversial political rally they weren't actively involved or publicly supporting.

    The western world in general, and the US in particular need to rapidly get their act together with regards to their legislation and legal rulings surrounding privacy, because soon only the wealthy will have any left.

    The politically/financially connected get their houses blurred out on google maps, why don't get the rest of us have to opt in our houses being visible from space or streetview?

    1. Re:Different resolution and level of detail. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

      If the future is omnipresent surveillance (I can see a simple AI app in 20 years basically being the panopticon held in the basement of those billion dollar spy agency buildings today) then the only real solution is to let everybody have it so we can track government as they track us.

      Sad but better than the alternative.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  6. Sheet music! by samwichse · · Score: 1

    Honestly, sheet music is a pretty genius use for something like glass. That would be way better than paper music or tablets or whatever, especially for instruments you have to hold with your hands and use a stand for.

    But I'd love this even for the piano.

    1. Re:Sheet music! by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Uh, how? You just look at a sheet of paper on a music stand.

    2. Re: Sheet music! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With physical sheet music you need to turn pages, duh.

    3. Re: Sheet music! by samwichse · · Score: 1

      And cart around a stand in addition to your instrument.

  7. Glass was a tech tragedy by DalM · · Score: 2

    Glass should never have been a consumer product. Hindsight 20/20, that was foolish of Google.

    That said, Glass DOES have LOTS AND LOTS of obvious business related uses. Any professional, technician, or worker that uses their hands could have made a lot of use of this product. It's a tragedy it was killed. It should have just been rebranded and re-marketed to professional customers.

    1. Re:Glass was a tech tragedy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand what if it had a killer app that attracted the masses.

      Imagine if Pokemon Go was on Google Glass.

    2. Re:Glass was a tech tragedy by DalM · · Score: 1

      The "killer app" was the ability to document things without needing to hold a laptop or tablet and have both hand free.

      Think about surgeons. for one example. A surgeon could have a live video feed to a peer for a second opinion during operation all while having vital stats shown to the surgeon in real time without the doctor having to look up from his work.

      Or consider a mechanic. A mechanic could have that car's manual visible in real time while working under the car.

      Or consider a factory worker. They could have step by step assembly instruction visible in real time while actively assembling the product.

      The potential benefit was endless for professional industry. Google thought it was a toy for smug programmers.

    3. Re:Glass was a tech tragedy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "killer app" was the ability to document things without needing to hold a laptop or tablet and have both hand free.

      The head or shoulder mounted camera does this just fine - and regularly - for your use cases. And you don't need to wear glasses.

  8. Daemon a good primer on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read Daemon by Daniel Suarez to get some interesting ideas on how augmented reality will be used/useful.

    Great read, though will put the fear of God in you about AI.

    1. Re:Daemon a good primer on this by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      I rather liked the solution to the spam problem. :)

      If you liked the book, you might also like "The adolescence of P-1"

  9. Holey moley! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Phone calls whilst driving, pix and video while on the go," writes another."
    "The frustration, perhaps, stemmed from the mathematically proven fact that only half of the puzzle configurations are solvable (likely unbeknownst to the addicted)."

    I'm loath to digress thusly, but I so fearfully fervently eptly wonder, can we ever be done with "whilst" and "unbeknownst?" No one should be permitted to utter a para that contains either of these two most foul words without at least one "thee" or "thou" as well. If Old English must still be used, if thou simply must use such archaic and embarrassing silly words, thou shouldst at least do it fully. Shakespeare would be proud, or at least have a good snicker at thee.

    OK, I'm done.

    1. Re: Holey moley! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can I respectfully piggyback your excellent comment and request we add bespoke and zeitgeist to your list?

  10. Why do you care if a handful of weirdos still play by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    msmash you seem to have a point of view u wish to boost with a rare anecdote. There are people who still have potato clocks. Who gives a shit?

  11. Glassholes indeed by WCMI92 · · Score: 1

    I have never seen these things. But Ashland, KY is far from anywhere.

    --
    Corporatism != Free Market
    1. Re:Glassholes indeed by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      I have never seen these things.

      Hah! But they have seen you! You just didn't notice.

      Stealthy Glassholes!

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  12. Has potential but... by BeerMilkshake · · Score: 2

    Remember the story of a guy with GG who went into a bar (in Seattle I think) wearing them and got punched out, glasses broken. Why?

    Theory: People HATE being recorded all the time, and REALLY hate being recorded in the bar. Maybe they're meeting someone they shouldn't be seeing. Maybe they are making a deal with someone. Whatever. Bars had always been the last bastion of private socialization.

    Yeah cell phones can do it but video recording is obvious when they are doing it so you can defend yourself by shutting up and getting out of the camera eye. Some people use their cells to record audio but that's considered dirty. Prepare to be hated if you get caught.

    The difference with GG is it made surveillance easy and obvious and personal. It became a focal point for society's brewing anger around being watched all the time. Knowledge is power, data-gathering is bullying.

    1. Re: Has potential but... by reanjr · · Score: 2

      Recording audio is often prohibited, depending on your state. Video is generally acceptable. Audio is considered private because you can lean in and whisper, while video is considered public (in a public place) because you can see someone from across the room.

    2. Re: Has potential but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I live in Arizona which is a one party consent state.

    3. Re:Has potential but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And it seems like everyone who was given a GG first had to max out an "are you a douche-bag test" to be given one.

  13. Glasshole term is wrong? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    it seems wrong to regard the dwindling frequenters of /r/googleglass as Glassholes.

    Based on what I see here on Slashdot the term Glasshole was used to describe generic use of google glass. A generalised statement along with a counter-intellectual assumption.

    I originally thought it was something that Slashholes here came up with but apparently making broad negative generalisations about people is something that is done elsewhere too.