Google has heard all the concerns
about Glass, its digital headset expected to hit the market by the end of the
year.
They've heard people's fears they'll
be secretly recorded by a Glass-wearing creeper. They know somebody's going to
be stupid and drive while using them. And, yes, they know that some people
might think you're a "Glasshole."
So, now, they're serving up a list of
"do's" and "don'ts" to avoid those awkward
moments and get the most out of what may be the most high-profile entry in the
emerging wearable-tech market.
On its website for Glass, Google has
posted advice for testers in its current Explorer program and, presumably, the
folks who will be entering the world of Glass when the headset goes on sale to
the public.
DO: Ask for permission
"Standing alone in the corner
of a room staring at people while recording them through Glass is not going to
win you any friends," Google says. "The Glass camera function is no
different from a cell phone so behave as you would with your phone and ask
permission before taking photos or videos of others."
Fears about privacy around Google Glass have been one of the
device's biggest hurdles on its path toward acceptance. Restaurants have banned
them, and complete strangers have confronted testers because of the device's
ability to shoot photos and video.
Easing those fears will be important
for Google as it moves forward.
DON'T:
Be creepy or rude (aka a "Glasshole")
Yes, Google itself used the
derogatory term "Glasshole" (although it's been massaged into a
description of bad behavior, as opposed to its broader meaning as a slur,
voiced by some critics, used to describe anybody wearing the headset).
This is the flip side of the first
entry.
"If you're asked to turn your
phone off, turn Glass off as well," Google writes. "Breaking the
rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass and will ruin
it for other Explorers."
DO: Take advantage of the Glass
voice commands
This is the real advantage of a lot
of wearable tech. You don't have to fiddle around with it like you do a
smartphone. But we mostly just like Google's hypothetical scenarios here:
"Glass can free your hands up
to do other things like golfing, cooking, or juggling flaming torches while
balancing on a beach ball."
DON'T: Glass out
Google is pushing Glass as a way of
getting quick updates or performing quick actions, as a complement to other
mobile devices instead of a replacement.
"If you find yourself staring
off into the prism for long periods of time you're probably looking pretty
weird to the people around you," the post reads. "So don't read War
and Peace on Glass."
DO: Use screen lock
Once you've customized your Glass, bad guys who
get their hands on it will have access to your e-mail and other sources of
personal information, just as if they'd snagged your phone or laptop.
No comments:
Post a Comment