Google Glass: Getting In Your Face
Is Google Glass the future of wearable tech?
-
By Coco Rocha
- July 2, 2013
- 0 Comments
At the beginning of this year, Google asked me if I'd
like to try out a prototype of Google Glass. Being a complete gadget
junkie, I'd read all about them and was as excited as anyone to actually
put them on. A future of augmented reality in the form of computer
glasses has long been the dream of many a science fiction fan who
imagines a world where information is superimposed into his vision,
where his every move is documented and archived and thus no memory is
ever lost and every experience can be relived. (That may also be a dream
function for the NSA.)
Given time, Google Glass definitely has the potential to give us that fully augmented reality that so many have been asking for. But in answering that desire, it's also brought up some new questions: will we still want it when we have it? Will it overwhelm and shorten our already-minute attention span? Will it make life chaotic or simplify it? And will its intrusion into our perceived privacy and personal space be a cultural issue? The debate has just begun, but so has the technology. From my hour or so with the prototype of Google Glass I got the feeling that it was sort of like the Wright brothers' flying machine—that we still have a way to go before we get to something more like a Lear jet.
As obvious as this may sound, I felt keenly self-conscious that I was wearing a small computer strapped to my head. To be straightforward, I think the main problem with most examples of "wearable tech" is that the emphasis is overwhelmingly put on the tech rather than it being truly wearable. To widen their appeal for when Google Glass becomes commercially available, Google would do well to mind its approach to design so that we don't risk looking like Geordi from Star Trek or a Terminator. It would be smart to partner with established eyewear designers such as Tom Ford or Ray-Ban to create something truly aesthetically pleasing that people would want to wear. Such collaborations could ensure that wearable tech is actually wearable. If not, I feel that Google Glass could quickly go the way of the Bluetooth headset—something that only obnoxious bro-types wear on their heads in 2015.
With Google Glass, I felt the most uncomfortable when I had to announce commands verbally. This is also my problem with Siri and other voice-activated technology; who wants to be the crazy person speaking to a computer? At the time I suggested to the reps from Google that maybe they could have Glass read some kind of rudimentary sign language. Perhaps you could wear a ring or bracelet with a small accelerometer embedded that reads your movements and reports it to Glass. Yep, in my mind's eye I was sorting through files like Tom Cruise in Minority Report. Then again, maybe looking like you're conducting an invisible orchestra is just as crazy as speaking to an invisible computer assistant.
By the sound if it, Google Glass will have immediate competition in the wearable tech space from Apple and Samsung when it hits the wider market in a few months. As you're undoubtedly aware, Apple has reportedly been testing 1.5-inch curved OLED screens that would be perfect for an "iWatch." It's even started trademarking the name in many countries. And this spring, Samsung confirmed development of a smartwatch. From the rumors alone it sounds like the smartwatch concept could be a much more comfortable and acceptable apparatus to use, even if its form means it can't offer the same level of interactivity.
The era of wearable tech that Google Glass and smartwatches are moving us into will be something like the smartphone market seven years ago; we will see wildly different takes on the idea that will filter down into a few tried and tested models that make sense for most people. The one rule I see dominating this emerging industry is that for wearable tech to really make sense it has to enhance our life, not complicate it or intrude upon it.
end quote from:
| PC Magazine | - |
At
the beginning of this year, Google asked me if I'd like to try out a
prototype of Google Glass. Being a complete gadget junkie, I'd read all
about them and was as excited as anyone to actually put them on.
Yes. I think communication through eye movements for now would be the next step for Google Glass. Hawkings has something like this on his computer. You would need a list of commands on your minute screen and be able to look at them. However, likely the screen in order to do this would have to be the size of the inside of the right eyepiece of a larger pair of glasses in order for a computer to read eye movement commands. Also, this technology likely would be expensive at first. However, without this modification I don't think this technology is evolved enough to catch on very much, especially with the NSA revelations which likely will increase over the years and on into the future.
Yes. I think communication through eye movements for now would be the next step for Google Glass. Hawkings has something like this on his computer. You would need a list of commands on your minute screen and be able to look at them. However, likely the screen in order to do this would have to be the size of the inside of the right eyepiece of a larger pair of glasses in order for a computer to read eye movement commands. Also, this technology likely would be expensive at first. However, without this modification I don't think this technology is evolved enough to catch on very much, especially with the NSA revelations which likely will increase over the years and on into the future.
In the 1980s I began writing about Arcane, a humanoid man from another planet whose genetics originated here on earth when his ancestors colonized other worlds starting around 2400 AD. When he was sent to Earth through time travel to here in San Francisco around 1987 he brought with him a Galactic version of Google Glass in that it was a sentient aware computer that he could converse with but was built into his body in the form of a mole on his face (video cam and microphone) interfaced with deep storage of a terrabyte or more built into his molars in fillings in his back teeth. Transmissions throughout the galaxy (sending and receiving) could be made by extending his arms away from his body through his finger tips or simply through his toes at any moment without causing harm to his DNA or his vital organs. He could converse with "BioCom" telepathically to call up literally "ANY" information in the past, present or future that he needed to know about here on earth from literally any place or time in the galaxy. BioCom is like a friend that you can talk to who will do research on literally anything you need to know about in that moment from a galactic library of information from the past, present and future.
Here is some of this:
Earth 1987 is definitely not a time I would choose to vacation in. It is Early Nuclear in Galactic Timekeeper terms.
My biological implants are called by us Biocom which is short for Biocommunicator and biocomputer for it is both. Biocom has done a mind scan and is programming my psychic substructure for verbal physical and psychic nuances of this era so I can appear to be a normal human of 1987. I am standing on what is called the Golden Gate Bridge which guards the opening of the San Francisco Bay.
What is this? Someone's going to jump off the bridge. Does a forthright person in this culture stop this behavior? Yes, others are running to help stop her. The Woman is screaming and foaming at the mouth. "Help me they are trying to kill me." She says. Her behavior seems bizarre even to me, an offworlder.
The automatic thought scanner of my friendly sentient biocom tells me she has been tampered with by beings that are unfriendly aliens. But the cultural norm of this present day culture apparently doubts that aliens even exist in real time on earth. Boy! Have they got a lot to learn?
***Note a biocomputer is a micro-micro sentient computer built into the left ear lobe and into a spot just outside the left corner of the mouth and into a little area atop the head. Each of these three interfaced units is both thought and voice activated and undetectable to the present technology of 1987. There is also deep memory storage of one billion terabytes in the fillings of my lower molars. Through earth satellite relay I can within ten seconds retrieve Earth information from any files on earth or any information I am permitted to access in this Galaxy from any known time or space. I can instantly communicate by thought or word to Galactic Central Timekeepers in emergencies. This can be done in 4 or 5 basic ways consciously or by about 50 different unconscious ways, which automatically generate when consciousness is absent or altered in any way. All my vital signs and all DNA based life forms around me within 100 yards are also monitored for potential threats or dangers.
*** Note 2: Contrary to popular belief the best place to manifest and disappear in time travel is in public. Over 50 people in a football field size area is an earth traveling rule for my group of timekeepers. Our biocoms can change the motivations and thoughts in those around us when we manifest or disappear within 1/100th of a second when necessary. Since our biocoms monitor all life around us they do this automatically.
Arcane thinks, "This woman feels very familiar. Do I know her from Time School?"
She is entering her pre-seizure catatonia with a look that could be described as a mixture of relief and resignation. What an odd reaction.
"Wait a minute! She has a mole on her left cheek strategically placed. Here's a thought project, Biocom. What type of Galactic Federation operative wears this kind of mole, Biocom? Picture detect from left cheek mini camera video stream."
"Arcane?" says Biocom. "Yes Bio." I return.
"This woman seems to be an employee of the Federation from 5000 years before you were born."
I say, " I need more information on her from your memory. Also, what is her profession?"
"Her profession is easy. She is a planetary anthropologist like you."
Note 3: Planetary Anthropologists study the culture of a planet in totality within a planetary era of about 25 years. This information is sent to the Galactic archives to see what uses the galaxy can make of earth's wisdom, adaptations, knowledge and mistakes garnered during that time epoch.
Biocom continued, "As to the nature of her identity and complete mission, I will have to locate some cross references that are in deep storage in your teeth-fillings. It will make your teeth buzz a little."
"Go ahead," I say. " I think this is important enough to deep access."
Biocom continued thinking, "Then I will draw some biomass electricity from the group auric field. Okay?"
"Do it." I say.
All this took less than 5 seconds, as thought is far quicker than spoken words. I hoped the slight drain on the group biomass wouldn't' adversely affect anyone. I knew biocom would not draw any electricity from the girl in trouble so I let him continue.
As her seizure develops, I place my hand at the base of her neck to draw off the excess neuron electricity. Her seizure slows and ebbs as a result of this process.
A woman helping me says, "I am a nurse. You seem to know what you are doing."
I quickly reply. " I have learned some of the healing arts while traveling through Asia."
"Good." She says. " I think she'll recover."
Will someone please call an ambulance?"
The ambulance arrived very quickly. The men in the ambulance I recognized as Morlocks by the shape of their reconstructed auras. They are obviously time traveling Morlocks. I know they were completely wiped out by the Galactic Federation over 30,000 years ago.
"Biocom. Were these Morlocks killed along with their culture?"
"Yes" was biocoms reply. "They just haven't experienced it yet."
"Do they know that their civilization is gone?"
" No, Arcane, the Federation is very thorough. No stone was left unturned."
" If I take away their consciousness while protecting the girl will problems arise?"
"It's hard to say." Said biocom. "I'll have to access the ancient prime directives concerning this type of situation. Just a moment. ------Found it. ---You must not disconnect from consciousness either temporarily or permanently any of this group. I have called for Galactic Federation Watchers to supervise this situation, as it is very delicate."
As the Morlock ambulance personnel pick up the woman and place her on a stretcher or gurney I ask if I may ride in the ambulance with her. They ask, "Are you a close friend or relative?"
I say. "Yes."
"What is your name?" one of the Morlocks asks.
" George Smith." I reply.
"Very Well George get on board as we must move quickly." Arcane realizes he feels happy. He thinks how odd this is. He hasn't felt really happy like a man since he and Arrayin were together before the war. "Amazing!" he thinks. "I never expected to feel happy like this again."
We are moving down the streets of San Francisco to the nearest hospital. I know the Morlocks cannot fulfill their plans for her as long as I am around. I sense their uneasiness as to who or what I am. Biocom has informed me that they must wait for orders. I'm a monkeywrench in the gears of their plans so they must play out the hospital act.
As we arrive at the hospital other attendants take the young woman from the driver and the attendant. As they leave they give us strange looks. I'm glad to be rid of them even though I know it is only temporary.
The hospital technicians ask me my name and I continue with "George Smith."
I tell them that she has attempted suicide before in other parts of the country. I want the police involved as this will scare of the Morlocks further.
Then I say, "I'll be in the waiting room for a couple of hours until I can speak with her."
One of the nurses says, "Fine, you will be notified as soon as she regains consciousness. It will help her to have someone familiar to talk to after she regains consciousness. Was it drugs that caused this?"
"I'm not sure." I reply.
"We'll do some tests to try to find the cause. Thanks for your help."
Biocom sounded concerned. "Arcane! The Galactic Feds are arriving. Get ready to great them. You know these kind are usually difficult. These two are pretty stiff."
Two stiffly walking humanoids trying to hide their displeasure at being assigned to a backwater planet strut toward me.
"Archaic isn't it?" I offer in greeting.
To read more here is the Chapter 9 button:
Here is all 11 parts of "Memories" if you are interested:
No comments:
Post a Comment