Google has been expanding the amount of "Explorers" testing its highly anticipated, and in many ways highly controversial, wearable tech accessory the Google Glass. The device fits around the user's eye and allows him or her to record video, browse the web and do a bevy of other unique features. However, with only about 10,000 Glass Explorers wearing the technology out in the world, it's become a bit of a controversial bit of equipment.
On Tuesday, a woman in Calif. plead not guilty in what is believed to be the first traffic citation alleging a motorist was using the Google Glass while operating a vehicle, according to NBC News.
The woman was driving in October down a freeway in San Diego when a California Highway Patrol officer noticed her going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone. He pulled her over and added an additional citation normally given to people driving while a video or TV screen is on in the front of their vehicle because she was wearing the Glass.
While the courts work on the case of whether or not wearing the Glass while behind the wheel counts as distracted driving, other people have run into difficulties with Glass freedom as well. Just last week a man was kicked out of a bar/restaurant in Seattle for wearing his Glass. The owner had previously banned the device (after only hearing about it) in another establishment he owned. Once A Google Glass Explorer entered the Lost Lake Café & Lounge he was approached by management and told that he needed to either remove the device or leave. The explorer later pointed out that the Lost Lake Café & Lounge offered rewards for posting photos of friends there on Instagram, making the concerns about video or photo capture on the Glass seem arbitrary.
While the law and public opinion still racing to catch up to the innovation of having a recording and augmented reality device on someone's body at all times, Google has been relatively quiet about directly addressing these kind of situations. It does however seem to be taking privacy concerns very seriously. Facial recognition software for the device has seen its development put on hold due to public privacy concerns. Earlier this year many raised concerns that the Glass could hack information by way of a QR code. In addition, the company recently had to ban applications for the Glass that promoted adult entertainment through recording and sharing first-person point-of-view pornographic images on the Glass. To do this it was forced to alter its policy to prohibit explicit sexual content.
In that same vein, strip clubs and other adult entertainment establishments have already been forced to place preemptive bans on the technology to avoid performers being secretly videotaped at work.
Still, despite the flak that the technology is receiving, many Explorers, such as the one pulled over in San Diego and the one thrown out of a bar in Seattle, are behind the technology and are willing to ride out the storm of controversy to get this piece of equipment on the market and make as common as a smartphone.
Tell us what you think, do the Glass' benefits outweigh these controversial issues? Comment and share your thoughts or concerns with us below.
