Google Posts 10 'Google Glass Myths,' Insisting They're Normal to Wear

By Relaxnews

In an unusual step, the company has published a list debunking what it describes as the top 10 myths surrounding its controversial smart headset.

Published to the Google Glass Google+ page on Friday, the piece aims to address everything from claims that the device is the ultimate distraction to the belief that its widespread adoption will signal the end of privacy as we know it.

In terms of distraction, Google suggests that Google Glass is actually better than a computer or a smartphone because “Instead of looking down at your computer, phone or tablet while life happens around you, Glass allows you to look up and engage with the world.”

However, its argument against the device’s perceived erosion of privacy may be less convincing for some critics: the post notes that the same was said when the camera was invented in the 19th century. “Cameras were banned in parks, at national monuments and on beaches. People feared the same when the first cell phone cameras came out. Today, there are more cameras than ever before. In ten years there will be even more cameras, with or without Glass.”

Other misconceptions addressed in the post include that the device is ready for launch (it’s still very much in the prototype stage), that it supports facial recognition (it doesn’t), and that it’s always on and always recording (it isn’t, its default setting is ‘off’).

For the full list, check out the Google+ page.

As the world’s most high-profile wearable technology device, Google Glass has come in for a lot of criticism since it was unveiled in initial prototype form in 2011. A number of US states have moved to ban the wearing of Google Glass while driving, a number of restaurants and cafes have moved to prohibit the headset’s use on their premises and a number of campaign groups have been formed to protest against the device.

Some of the negativity surrounding Google Glass is the result of ignorance, however, much of the bad press is also a result of the behavior of the Glass Explorers, the first wave of early adopters who are currently testing the product. So much so that Google was recently moved to publish a similar list that it hoped would help Google Glass wearers to stop acting like “Glassholes”.