Thread: Google Glass

Originally Posted by Xei

Good point, let's also ban mobile phones and books and alcohol and laptops.

I like how you are implying that I want to ban those glasses, when I am talking about people walking face-first into poles. Interesting connection

They are just a smartphone that goes on your face. Which is precisely why I said "I see no purpose to them..." You're free to watch youtube videos while walking if you want, but if you walk face-first into a pole, I will probably laugh. And if you crash your car into me while wearing them, I won't be happy about that. (But then again, many places already ban the use of alcohol, laptops, DVD players, and cellular devices while driving. I'm not sure why we WOULDN'T ban cellphone glasses while driving...)

I don't know about you guys, but I think it would be pretty badass having Terminator-style HUD vision.

The future is coming. Are you ready?

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

I like how you are implying that I want to ban those glasses, when I am talking about people walking face-first into poles. Interesting connection

They are just a smartphone that goes on your face. Which is precisely why I said "I see no purpose to them..." You're free to watch youtube videos while walking if you want, but if you walk face-first into a pole, I will probably laugh. And if you crash your car into me while wearing them, I won't be happy about that. (But then again, many places already ban the use of alcohol, laptops, DVD players, and cellular devices while driving. I'm not sure why we WOULDN'T ban cellphone glasses while driving...)

It could help people be better drivers too. They could have a driving mode which highlights the road (fuck, can't remember whether I said this here or on Reddit.... I think it was Reddit but I'll say it again anyway) and possible highlights things which it thinks you may not have seen, animals running toward the road etc.

Yeah that would actually be augmented reality - identifying dynamic objects in the environment etc.

Originally Posted by tommo

It could help people be better drivers too. They could have a driving mode which highlights the road (fuck, can't remember whether I said this here or on Reddit.... I think it was Reddit but I'll say it again anyway) and possible highlights things which it thinks you may not have seen, animals running toward the road etc.

But if google has self-driving cars, too... (I'm curious how they're going to handle things like deer with self-driving cars... in some situations it's safer to slam on the brakes, but in others it's safer to slow but not stop too quickly [someone behind you in a vehicle.]) It's a neat idea... but I still think people would be too busy voice-to-texting or something of the like. Humans: they do really stupid things while driving.

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

But if google has self-driving cars, too... (I'm curious how they're going to handle things like deer with self-driving cars... in some situations it's safer to slam on the brakes, but in others it's safer to slow but not stop too quickly [someone behind you in a vehicle.]) It's a neat idea... but I still think people would be too busy voice-to-texting or something of the like. Humans: they do really stupid things while driving.

Yeah, they already have robots that can navigate an obstacle-ridden environment; however, stationary objects only require one to take the robot's velocity and acceleration etc into account. It's predictable. But with other moving objects in the picture, objects with unpredictable direction and action....it'd would require some serious engineering and physics.

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

I like how you are implying that I want to ban those glasses, when I am talking about people walking face-first into poles. Interesting connection

They are just a smartphone that goes on your face. Which is precisely why I said "I see no purpose to them..." You're free to watch youtube videos while walking if you want, but if you walk face-first into a pole, I will probably laugh. And if you crash your car into me while wearing them, I won't be happy about that. (But then again, many places already ban the use of alcohol, laptops, DVD players, and cellular devices while driving. I'm not sure why we WOULDN'T ban cellphone glasses while driving...)

Uh... that was the whole point. They should be banned. Either specifically or implicitly in dangerous driving legislation.

It's just that somebody using something in a stupid and dangerous way doesn't make that thing stupid or dangerous.

The potential benefits greatly outweigh the potential dangers imo, can't wait until technology like this becomes mainstream.

Originally Posted by Xei

It's just that somebody using something in a stupid and dangerous way doesn't make that thing stupid or dangerous.

I never said the glasses were stupid or dangerous "Pointless" was my word of choice...

Originally Posted by Wolfwood

Yeah, they already have robots that can navigate an obstacle-ridden environment; however, stationary objects only require one to take the robot's velocity and acceleration etc into account. It's predictable. But with other moving objects in the picture, objects with unpredictable direction and action....it'd would require some serious engineering and physics.

That would, indeed. And I almost forgot about pedestrians and bikers, that would be a problem, too!

Although I think it would make more sense to simply improve public transportation, financially and in terms of energy savings. While cars that drive themselves would be convenient, I feel like all of the conveniences we have here are one of the main reasons the environment is being ravaged. Creating more and more vehicles to replace "non-self driving" would take a huge toll.

Solve one problem, create a dozen more to solve!

If saving the planet really was the goal, they'd find a way to make public transport free so as to discourage people wasting money on petrol.....using cars. There'd be far less traffic, less crashes, less fuel used, and more public transport could be built, put on to the road etc.

But it's not the goal, and never will be. Until the planet is literally at the brink of exhaustion.

Google Glass is intriguing because we've only been able to imagine it up to this point. I would enjoy trying it, but I agree that it's a smartphone on your face. Just as a smartphone is a less-powerful computer in your palm. Businesses would drool over Google Glass anyway, for it would allow users to multi-task and quickly communicate with others.

If virtual reality/simulation could be perfected and added to the Google Glass, then it would be more beneficial and innovative. Schools and the porn industry would love that too.

However, as of this point, I would never use a product like that. Businesses are stealing enough of our private data as is. Think of how much easier it would be for companies to know your personal information. If you kept the glasses on as regularly as you keep their phone on you, Google could potentially see and hear everything you do. Smartphones pick up your Internet and app usage, as well as the places you visit. These glasses would do that and so much more. It obviously picks up voice commands and can take photos (presumably video as well?) of your surroundings. It'll track where you go, what you buy, your interests, your girlfriend's interests, medical information, SSN, bank information, ANYTHING. Now imagine if that was hacked. I imagine that would be much more damaging than if your phone was hacked or stolen.

I do not want an entire company--thousands of people--knowing all of my details. Google has already proved that it loves to consume private data.

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

Although I think it would make more sense to simply improve public transportation, financially and in terms of energy savings. While cars that drive themselves would be convenient, I feel like all of the conveniences we have here are one of the main reasons the environment is being ravaged. Creating more and more vehicles to replace "non-self driving" would take a huge toll.

Solve one problem, create a dozen more to solve!

Originally Posted by Wolfwood

If saving the planet really was the goal, they'd find a way to make public transport free so as to discourage people wasting money on petrol.....using cars. There'd be far less traffic, less crashes, less fuel used, and more public transport could be built, put on to the road etc.

This. It should all go back to publicly owned instead of private companies.
It costs as much to take the train and bus everyday (at least in Aus) as it does to run your car. Of course there's extra costs, like servicing, insurance etc.
But for most people those extra costs get made up for with convenience.

We wouldn't need to replace all cars though, just install cameras and and sensors along with the computer system in to existing cars.
However, a much better option would be basically public transport, but with a mix of personal vehicles as well.
We could recycle all the cars currently existing, create MUCH smaller pods and then have them drive themselves (no need for crumple zones and other safety features which increase size).

Trains are a massive waste at the moment because half of the time (middle of the day and late night) there fucking nobody on the damn things.
We have 20-or-so-carriage trains going back and forth from the city to the suburbs with 10 people on them. It's stupid. At the very least make smaller carriages, and disconnect
most of them during off-peak hours.

Oh yeah and if everyone took public transport it would basically negate all street lighting, so more energy savings.

Originally Posted by tommo

Oh yeah and if everyone took public transport it would basically negate all street lighting, so more energy savings.

Depends if that transportation is a bus or not. But it would also (hopefully) help light pollution if the public transportation is a train.

This is so inevitably the future

However, ten years after these glasses have come out they will look like those huge mobile phones look to us now; since everyone will have neural implants by then... Right?

Jon Stewart's take on google glass was classic

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

Depends if that transportation is a bus or not. But it would also (hopefully) help light pollution if the public transportation is a train.

Doesn't matter, even if everyone had their own car, they could see the road using infrared, or just have sensors all along the roads.
I'm assuming all transportation in the future is automatic.

Originally Posted by tommo

Doesn't matter, even if everyone had their own car, they could see the road using infrared, or just have sensors all along the roads.
I'm assuming all transportation in the future is automatic.

I would probably be riding a bike in the future, and then die because the car would assume I'm a deer and determine that it's safer to the passengers to kill the deer than slow down and crash into another vehicle.

Originally Posted by tommo

Doesn't matter, even if everyone had their own car, they could see the road using infrared, or just have sensors all along the roads.
I'm assuming all transportation in the future is automatic.

I sure hope not. Why must we try so hard to idiot proof everything?

I don't mind if we develop more public transportation systems but I still want the freedom to navigate myself around.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Jon Stewart's take on google glass was classic

Jon Stewart on Google's glasses: Like people peeing in your eye | Technically Incorrect - CNET News

Haha! oh wow, I loved that instagram bit. That girl is hilarious too.
That's insane though. Lucky fuckers whoever made that app.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

I sure hope not. Why must we try so hard to idiot proof everything?

I don't mind if we develop more public transportation systems but I still want the freedom to navigate myself around.

Do you want to be killed by some moron who can't drive? (see: most of the human population).
Personally I don't.
What is the difference between getting a car to drive you somewhere and driving there yourself?
Either way, you can't fight it. Google's already developed a fully functional self-driving car, plus people
would rather be using instagram on their way to work instead of moving a wheel side to side.

Of course there would have to be a manual override in case you need to go off the road for whatever reason.
But I think your insurance would not cover crashes while in manual mode.

The difference is I do know how to drive and I enjoy the activity of driving. I drive a stick shift, so you can see I'm still unwilling to even allow my transmission to be automatic, let alone anything else.

Again, I have the same question, why must we try so hard to idiot proof everything?

Originally Posted by tommo

What is the difference between getting a car to drive you somewhere and driving there yourself?

Driving off of roads. Passing slow people? I prefer vehicles that run non-digitally, personally. Although I also have irrational preferences for things like food I grow and cook myself, books made of paper, etc. So I'm not the best source.

Fun anecdote: A girl in one of my classes said that once she put her foot on the brake, and her car drove through the wall of her house. She said the "computer" in her car malfunctioned, and when she pressed the brake it accelerated. It would be nice to be able to blame accidents on a computer, if cars RAN ON COMPUTERS

What was the point of that story again? I don't even know. But it made me laugh to myself while simultaneously (and internally) facepalming.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Again, I have the same question, why must we try so hard to idiot proof everything?

I have the same answer; because there are a lot of idiots.

And it's not just natural selection at work. They mostly kill other people, drunk drivers die less often in car crashes etc.
Plus our cars are so packed with safety features that they're unlikely to be seriously injured in a crash.

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

Driving off of roads. Passing slow people? I prefer vehicles that run non-digitally, personally. Although I also have irrational preferences for things like food I grow and cook myself, books made of paper, etc. So I'm not the best source.

Fun anecdote: A girl in one of my classes said that once she put her foot on the brake, and her car drove through the wall of her house. She said the "computer" in her car malfunctioned, and when she pressed the brake it accelerated. It would be nice to be able to blame accidents on a computer, if cars RAN ON COMPUTERS

What was the point of that story again? I don't even know. But it made me laugh to myself while simultaneously (and internally) facepalming.

There wouldn't be slow people if everyone is using self-driving cars lol

I do prefer my own home-grown food too, I don't think it's irrational. It's a lot more healthy and tastes better and not bad for the environment.

Yeah that girl is a moron, she just hit the wrong pedal. But cars do have computers in them.
I actually did that for the first time the other day though, actually yesterday lol
I wasn't paying much attention and was leaning back in my chair (I usually keep most of my back off the chair).
And I went to slow down and I just hear the revs go up and I accelerate suddenly aha
Scared the shit out of me.