Articles

Do Google Glasses excite or intrigue you?

PE

Google Glass
Google Glass

Soundbites


Could Google Glass change the way we live?

Google Glass, a wearable computer with a screen above the right eye that allows users to take pictures, record video and read messages, goes on sale next year for £1,000. Does this excite or intrigue you?

So people don’t find out I am a Luddite, I leave my outdated phone in my pocket. With Google Glass, I will have to walk around with a paper bag on my head. 
Jonathan Smith, Gloucester

“Serious” uses will emerge, such as to support maintenance where the user can access manuals and discuss situations with remote colleagues. But consumerisation will drive down prices and make this as ubiquitous as the mobile phone. 
Tim King, Tamworth

As I am of an age where qualification for the Victor Meldrew club becomes automatic, I am unlikely to be enthused.   
David Odling, Altrincham

Might be fun, but not at £1,000. 
Dave Scrimshaw, Colchester 

If it was used for map displays and was designed correctly it would be safer than looking at satnavs in cars. 
Nick Schulkins MBE, Winchester 

Could be useful for spies, engineering inspectors, bomb disposal officers and people with poor memories. 
Roger Middleton, Epsom

It is sad to see people who can’t bear to be parted from their precious smartphone – the art of simple enjoyment of the world around us is dying. This invention is another way in which we can detach from the rest of society. 
Anonymous 

Why are we giving the functionality to a machine when the finest piece of biological technology, the brain, is capable of all this and more?  
Neil Gilson, Farnborough

This could be the Sinclair C5 of mobile devices.
Gordon Neilson, Glasgow

I am not keen on being filmed in public. No doubt GCHQ will be hoovering up all the video obtained. 
Stephen Henderson, Birmingham

The wearer would fit in nicely between the “bananas” and the “nuns” at any test match.
Roger Dungworth, Sheepy Magna

I can foresee a new genre of real-life TV footage: Google Glass wearers recording their own muggings. Might be difficult to get the footage if their £1,000 glasses are taken, but I’m sure some kind of auto-syncing to the cloud would be possible. 
John Rutledge, Peterborough

This is the start of influencing and controlling everything people see and do. Do people really think they need this technology? 
John Green, Yarm, Cleveland

Head-up displays made us feel like fighter pilots, and Google Glass is the next step. The technology has potential for aiding engineers in the design cycle and maintenance, as well as R&R on the train! 
Scot Fisher, London 

Following this we will move to an implanted computer. Ultimately our personalities will be uploaded to continue as silicon-based life forms. 
Chris De Avenell, Le Mans, France

Governments could use it to covertly gather evidence. Voyeurism would flourish. Following all the carry-on with tweets, this will open up further opportunities for “trolls”.
Anonymous

The idea irritates me beyond measure. Get a life!
Simon Marshall, Loughborough

Amazing. Coupled with mobile broadband, endless information available anywhere. Only thing is, when you were speaking to someone, you would never be sure what they were looking at. 
Anonymous

The government might introduce legislation to protect unencumbered pedestrians from those who own one and whose brains are incapable of walking, talking and data handling simultaneously without mishap.  
Geoff Miles, Tonbridge 

In 20 years, will the computer be embedded in our bodies, projecting images into our brains? At what point does the idea of the Doctor Who Cybermen start to impact the take-up of technology like this?  
James Hilton, Cheshire

This sounds like a great opportunity to capture junk video for Facebook. 
Jeff Bulled, Lidlington, Beds

Many are sceptical, myself included, but in years time an evolution of this will be mainstream for the majority.
Iain Morris, London

I’ve seen the Borg in Star Trek and have no wish to become one.
Peter Howells, Tamworth 

Most people silly enough to go around with a computer screen in their line of sight will soon be eliminated by accidents.
Graham Haines, Staffordshire

I find this exciting. The moment you look at something happening, and find it’s all over before you can get your camera out, happens too frequently – maybe this can catch those moments.  
Robert Landragin, Enfield

It is yet another gadget for the hard of thinking. I will continue to use my iHead instead of relying on gadgets to steer me through daily life. 
Joachim Neff, Daegu, South Korea

  • What do you think about this technology? Please share your views by commenting below.
Share:

Professional Engineering magazine

Current Issue: Issue 1, 2025

Issue 1 2025 cover
  • AWE renews the nuclear arsenal
  • The engineers averting climate disaster
  • 5 materials transforming net zero
  • The hydrogen revolution

Read now

Professional Engineering app

  • Industry features and content
  • Engineering and Institution news
  • News and features exclusive to app users

Download our Professional Engineering app

Professional Engineering newsletter

A weekly round-up of the most popular and topical stories featured on our website, so you won't miss anything

Subscribe to Professional Engineering newsletter

Opt into your industry sector newsletter

Related articles