Comment by lhnz | Hacker News Reader

Comment by lhnz | Hacker News Reader

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http://econogirl.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/braces.jpg

The metal line is reminiscent of a head brace, while the projector makes you look like cyborg escaped from a Halloween party. They will need a stunning amount of marketing and advertising for this to become socially acceptable.

I guess it could be a little bit worse, I can see they were trying to go for sleek...

I think the greater problem was that the actual uses they showed were so uninspiring. They should get more creative. The utilities arise from where (a) where we have difficulty giving meaning to something in our visual horizon, or (b) we wish to use a handicap (this normally requires hands and is better if hidden.)

Imagine going to a band's gig and you don't need to worry about only knowing the verses to some of the songs because you can see the lyrics? Hopefully the microphone could tell you if you're singing off-key...

Imagine busking with the lyrics, chords and notes for the song appearing in front of you as you play. No need to memorise everything.

Imagine walking up to an acquaintance and seeing their name next to their face; or walking into a pub and a bubble appearing when you see somebody telling you that they are the family member or friend of a close friend.

Or speaking to somebody and the software recognising their emotional cues for you. Pupils dilating, nostrils flaring, a fake smile, self-comforting, etc. Maybe you say something and a bar alerts you immediately to signs you have said the wrong thing; or a change in the tone of their voice signifying seriousness or interest.

It's hard to care about the time or temperature. And car's already have GPS...

Turn-by-turn directions alone for pedestrians, cyclists and motor bikes is probably enough to make a successful product. Google Now with glass could also be pretty amazing, and since you always have the sound on it could actually make push to talk (or.. talk to talk) a reality (since before it was too cumbersome to hear something, open your phone, say 'what', they repeat... 'oh ok', repeat..)

Like your ideas though, hopefully third party devs can make them a reality (I'm guessing battery is the issue on the persistant video recognition stuff). Seriously upbeat about this, it could change lives

I think that niche of travelling which requires your hands is definitely worth it. This is the reason why I don't like using a bike for long journeys.

That is a relatively small niche, they are looking for something much bigger. I personally can't see the use of wearing one, but then again, i still have a feature phone.

> Turn-by-turn directions alone for pedestrians, cyclists and motor bikes

Would the glasses fit if someone was wearing a motorbike helmet?

Google directions steer me wrong as often as not. I just use maps.

I would be willing to pay a fair share of money for the identification feature. It doesn't even have to identify strangers, just help my incompetent name-memory center remember the names of people I've met and where I met them. Some people can't remember names; some people can't remember faces. I can't remember either. :(

I can remember names and faces, but many times I have trouble remembering the mappings between them.

I always imagined a world where some device would do the auto ID. Guess we're now living in the future. :)

They will need a stunning amount of marketing and advertising for this to become socially acceptable.

Not necessarily, the popularity of hipster glasses is a perfect example of something ugly and awkward becoming hip. It's very possible for these to ride the coattails of geek chic and become widely accepted.

That doesn't mean it will be easy, there's a fine line between geeky (hipster glasses) and dorky (bluetooth headsets, Segways). And of course, price will have a lot to do with it, a $700 fashion statement serves a very different niche than a $70 one.

If they could look just like hipster glasses, you'd have lots of adopters right there.

The coattails of geek chic has a lot more to do with retro than it does new technology and geekyness.

Coattails are beyond retro, at this point.

They will need a stunning amount of marketing and advertising for this to become socially acceptable.

Well, according to the already existing marketing, if I buy one of these things, I'll have a happy family, dance with a classy, beautiful woman, have fun at New Year's, travel to Sedona, ride a snowboard, see the Brooklyn Bridge, shop for veggies in Chinatown, and travel some more.

You know what's interesting to me is that none of the faces staring back at "you" in the marketing are wearing Geordi La Forge glasses. If they were, would these "friends" seem as interested?

I disagree. I think around the home and at family gatherings it would be really cool. I can just wear the glasses as my kids do things, without worry that I might miss the "perfect" timing of an event. No more reaching for my Canon Rebel/iPhone/etc--it's just on. How many parents knew that their kids were about to take their first steps, only to miss the opportunity to record it. Yes, it's silly, but parents are very sentimental and the idea of preserving family memories like this is very attractive. Or even video conferencing with grandma, etc. I see the attraction to this product coming from private people rather than public. I.e. they'll want to use it as a way to record their private lives, share memories, etc.

When you are continually assisted like this, won't your own ability to do these things go unexercised and start to atrophy?

As another commenter mentioned -- police, yes. Good use case. Firefighters as well. (I assume the military already have similar gadgets.)

But the general public? I don't think so. Too creepy.

"They will need a stunning amount of marketing and advertising for this to become socially acceptable."

Come on, people with these things http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detai... on their ear look cool, busy and important ;)

Sorry but honestly these examples are repulsive to me

Yes, the creep factor is very high with the facial and emotional recognition. Few people would trust a person with Glass if they knew the person <i>might</i> be using it as a tool to gain a social advantage.

Interesting point.

"Is this guy recording me?"

It's okay, don't be sorry.

I assume you're talking about things which give you a social edge. Unfortunately you will just have to deal with it as reality slowly attunes itself with science fiction.

If you're in conversation with me wearing one of these things, I'm going to ask you to take it off.

That's how I'm "just going to deal with it".

Are you interesting enough for me to comply or will I just walk over to somebody else.

If that makes you walk way, I'll live.

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