Google Glasshole

So Lester Victor Marks went out and got himself a $1,600 pair of Google Glasses, then wore them around town. Things got interesting on his second stop:

This was the real destination of my errands, and Glass ran out of battery just as I was trying to get there.

I arrived at the paintball shop to fill CO2 canisters for use with my modified SodaStream carbonator. The owner behind the counter viewed me with suspicion, and asked exactly what I was wearing on my head. He had never heard of Google Glass.

“Basically a cell-phone for the head,” I explained. “I get driving directions, e-mails and phone calls to it.”

Unfortunately, the owner then became concerned that I might be filming him, without even knowing it included a camera. I explained to him that the batteries had died, so I couldn’t film anything. But he wasn’t buying it, and he became angry.

We know when you’re taking pictures, because you’re using a camera. We know when you’re using your phone, because you have a phone in your hand. Prices come down. Battery life gets extended. But there’s a creepiness factor to Google Glass, and it’s a much bigger hurdle to clear than price or battery life.

Finally, there’s this:

I became so uncomfortable wearing Glass that I didn’t go out a lot wearing the headset. Some people feel threatened, a few are interested, and a few are bored by it. But almost everyone looks at you like the nerd you are.

I love gadgets. I’m a gadget guy for as far back as I can remember. But I wouldn’t put these on my face for love or money.