Why Did Google Glass Fail?

in science •  7 years ago 



Old school.

Google Glass is a textbook example of the phrase: “awesome idea, awful execution.”

When Google announced that they would be creating a piece of hardware that put the power of technology in front of your eye, the world started to get excited. They then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot until they ran out of bullets.

For the low low price of $1500, early adopters (collectively referred to as “Explorers”) would be able to purchase their very own pair of unattractive, overpriced eyeglasses.

Aside from the price, the main complaint was the fact that Google Glass users could surreptitiously record video of people who probably didn’t want to be recorded in the first place.

With the proliferation of smartphones, Snapchat (don’t even get us started on their AR glasses), and drone-mounted cameras, these days people are more used to the idea of being filmed without their explicit consent.

Dan Kaplan paraphrased the problem quite well: “Google Glass is a breakthrough concept, but it involves wearing a camera on your face, saying things like “OK, Google,” out loud, and walking around like it’s cool to do those things in public.”

Furthermore, Google’s design of the actual hardware was terrible. While this design was likely a result of the limits in technology at the time, some more effort to make them at least somewhat resemble a normal pair of eyeglasses would have been warranted.

On top of that, onlookers were plagued with the feeling that Google Glass was being treated as a side project. There was virtually no effort by Google to create their $300 pair of glasses that they promised for so long.

To use a quote from Jurassic Park,

“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Aside from filming people without their consent (or creating bootleg recordings in a cinema), there was no clear purpose for buying a Google Glass.

The world was much different back then. While Snapchat’s attempt to break into wearable tech had a warmer welcome than Google’s, their offering also fell flat - but for another reason which we’ll get into in a later article.

I'm just waiting for the day when they turn Vegeta's Scouter into a real thing.

If you want to see a company who is doing smartglasses right, check out Lucyd. Only two weeks left to participate in their ICO.

What do you think about smartglasses?

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I have 2 pairs of Google Glass. They broke all the time lol. I really think it's good tech but didn't have a great consumer use case. It is making a comeback for enterprise though.

LOL. I considered buying one when they came out because I thought it looked cool and I had too much money. But now I'll pass.

I am getting a pair of Lucyd's first 500 when they come out. Very stoked about those as they seem to have the hardware and software side handled. Plus I need glasses.

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If it could actually read power levels it would have been an instant success.

Even Snap's glasses are considered a failure even tho they FAR outsold Google's version. What snap got right was the privacy, they knew to make it obvious when a person was filming, otherwise it's VERY creepy. We think THAT aspect will remain (having the glasses telegraph when they are filming) WHEN this tech goes mainstream, but you're totally spot on with the "execution" concept wrt Google's handling of the product.

snap is well run, and here's something to bite into regarding that...
https://steemit.com/money/@harpooninvestor/snapchat-the-greatest-investment-in-the-stock-market-at-usd17-15

Hello @yallapapi

Smart glasses are a good piece of technology but I really think companies should focus on making smart contact lenses like they do in the movies. Smart lens would be easier to walk about with and wouldn't be easily detectable.
The way smart contact lens is used in movies, I always wished I could get one for myself.
Nice post.


@geniusvillain

Same here. Someday...

This post has received gratitude of 7.68 % from @appreciator thanks to: @yallapapi, @yallapapi.

smart glass is cool i think, but the price is too high, turned the people down.

interesting post and good information

I think the price was what turned the people off. Too ridiculous

cus people dont wanna wear it on your face and you would make other people around you uncomfortable like they are bieng filmed

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If google glass is/was a good idea im a talking donkey. Also that VR garbage that will get you suckered in and make you loose your eyesight. I think domesticated horses have more vision than some people. How ugly the future will be and people think matrix was scary.

They should have it made it less obvious. Those glasses kind of don't make that much sense if you're walking around in the city. You trying to check your emails and you can hit by car because you didn't see it, you looking up stuff and people think that your video recording them while they're eating.

Like how Bluetooth makes it look like you're talking to yourself.

google glass and my ordinary glass? i chose my ordinary glass, it won't broke and strong enough to be use as a weapon.
beside google glass is very damn expensive