Thread: Google Glass

Originally Posted by MindGames

I imagine citizens will fight back for privacy. Every privacy violation gets blasted across social media sites these days. The government won't be able to perform a violent takeover when every citizen can print out armed drones.

I don't know how that would work. If sketchy but convenient technology is introduced gradually enough, I don't think most people would notice. Like when Google started targetting ads at people based on what they searched for. People allowed that to happen. And Google Glass itself - perhaps there are no privacy violations (except maybe the lack of a light on the outside to tell people it's recording), but it introduces more potential for privacy issues. Like what if the video feature is hackable?

I can't imagine what fighting back would really do anyway. It's not as though creating a facebook group and getting 10,000 likes really does anything, except raise awareness. I just can't imagine them stopping due to pressure from some social media site... unless they were going to lose all their customers. And if it's Google, they don't really have to worry about that. No one's going to stop using the search engine and YouTube at least, as they've become ways of life. What do you mean 'print out armed drones'?

Google seems like a friendly, well-meaning company, but it kinda feels too friendly, like it's trying extra hard to make people forget it's really a giant corporation. If it didn't have that friendliness front a lot more people would probably be worried.

That video on the previous page. Those 2 minutes of them talking about Google Glass. I'm buying this thing the moment it it released.

Privacy is just a tradeoff in a technological world. Everybody loses it. Government and Google won't be the only people with technology; I imagine the millions of people walking around with Glass on their face will be able to keep the government in check by documenting anything they try to pull. If it does come to a violent takeover, I don't know if they would be able to do that. People can always just not use Glass or root their device and make it stop uploading data to Google. As long as there's an internet, people will always be able to spread information on dark networks like Tor.

3D printing is the major thing I can think of that prevents a violent takeover. If you can print out a flying drone and attach printed weapons to it, or print out a machine gun for everyone, it would be pretty difficult for the government to control everybody. Especially when we get to molecular 3D printing (to print explosive materials) and move away from grid reliance with solar power. Eventually the population becomes so empowered, they're protected by the principle of mutually assured destruction. Every year we move closer to that as technology becomes cheap and widespread.

Originally Posted by Dianeva

I'm not very well-informed, and this post basically involves me ranting because I'm feeling paranoid and need to vent it somewhere.

I was reminded of Google Glass again recently, have been looking some stuff up and am very confused. At first, I feel a mixture of 'this is awesome' and 'I have a terrible feeling about this', mostly the latter. But I'm not sure why. The elephant-in-the-room, which no one seems to actually talk about, but I'm sure arises in just about everyone's minds, is that the idea is going too far.

I have this terrible feeling that something bad is going to happen, or it's going to be a gateway for something bad. I don't know if any of these feelings are rational. It just increases my fear that Big Brother is going to take over and I'm becoming afraid. The glasses themselves may not be so bad. But what if the US government for example decides that they have the right to spy on people if they want to from the glasses if they've been convicted of some crime? Just as they're allowed to search people's hard drives?

I mean I know there are regulations against spying on people... just like with webcams and microphones. Audio can't be received from them without the explicit permission of the user (clicking a button or something). Google already considered (or are considering) targeting ads at people based on key words they've received through their microphones. I'm sure that if the privacy laws weren't in place, they'd already be doing that. They already keep track of our search histories, both in our own hard drives and in their databases, in case we commit a crime.

I can imagine that perhaps Google may be persuaded to include some feature to spy on people. 'For safety' of course. That would be the excuse because most idiots will fall for it since they think safety is more important than privacy or freedom. It would be like "yeah we can spy on you but don't worry! It won't affect law-abiding citizens like yourself at all, it's only used in emergencies and we've implemented it so that we'll all be safer!" But the ability to spy would still be there. And what's after this? Glasses are rather inconvenient.... What about contacts? Why not implant little computers in our brains? And once the governments or companies finally distributed this type of thing to everyone, and had the potential to control us completely, they'd attack, and no one would even realize they were attacking anymore because they're too stupid and trusting.

It's infuriating that almost no one considers government or corporation takeover to be a real concern. Like it's the type of thing you read about in sci-fi books but they somehow feel disconnected from it, like the real world is steady, and the real groups in power are relatively reasonable and are looking out for your safety, and nothing bad will really happen. But we're forgetting our natural tendencies as people. People like power, and when they have it they want more of it, and will take advantage of it. We know this from history. Some people may entertain the idea, but they don't take it seriously. Even myself, even people who don't listen to mainstream media and who believe this may be a future issue... they still expect to have the same freedoms tomorrow as they did today. And they will... but the change will be so gradual no one will fucking notice.

/crazy-rant

They'll definitely use this to spy on people. They have robotic mosquito-drones in development, the CIA is pushing internet providers to spy on their customers, internet censorship bills are constantly being promoted (and they seem to get closer every time), etc. Every technological advancement is going to be used for spying, and the old-fucks in the Canadian and American governments are ok with it, while many of the younger folks don't care. We've devolved into a culture of complacency - one part "1984" and two parts "A Brave New World."

I plan on buying these things when they come out, but I'll have them jailbroken, rooted, etc to avoid the possibility of spying. It has the potential to be an extremely useful piece of tech, one that I definitely want to have around.
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"They already keep track of our search histories, both in our own hard drives and in their databases, in case we commit a crime."

Out of curiosity, how far back do these go, and do they get deleted when you change service providers?

Wtf... I just typed into youtube "google keeps track of search history" to find a video about it, and I got a red alert that says: "Experiment: There may be confidential content in your search results. Please do not share outside Google." Apparently other people are experiencing this too but no one knows what it means.

It was something I heard about 6 years ago, presented in an English class by an awesome teacher who wanted us to be more aware. I'm not entirely sure the following is correct but will definitely be looking into it now. I've only done a quick search about the information. He showed us a video which I can't find anymore. In fact, it's hard to find information about it at all. I had to use another search engine (not Google itself) to find information. So if you're looking for information which makes Google look bad, don't use Google to search for it, I guess.

Google does keep track of people's search histories, along with their IP addresses, for at least 18 months. I haven't read anything about it changing when you change ISPs. Google claims to delete the IP addresses and other identifying information after those 18 months, but they keep the search history forever. If I remember correctly, they keep the information confidential, and only use it for their searching algorithms, unless a person is under investigation by the government, in which case they'll give up a person's search history (perhaps they need a warrant).

There is some company that keeps track of everyone's personal records. I forget what it's called. But one alarming thing was that they get information from many sources, including shopping centers. If you're in a store, about to make a purchase, and you're asked for a couple bits of personal information, there's a good chance that the company has paid the store to forward the information to them, so that they can update your record. Now that I write it out, it sounds kind of conspiracy theory-ish, and I don't know if it's true.

Ugh... I don't read the news much. I didn't even know that this CISPA shit was trying to be passed again.

No, No,...and....NO! I haven't EVEN started getting a smartphone YET, and they expect me to jump from laptop/flipfone to google glass? Hell NA!

Originally Posted by Marvo

That video on the previous page. Those 2 minutes of them talking about Google Glass. I'm buying this thing the moment it it released.

You know it's $1000, right?

lol yeah, it's more like $1500. I imagine something like that may be worth a lot and go up in value though so maybe it would be a good investment (because if the glasses-phone trend keeps rising the very first one ever made might be like an antique? idk).

Same with me, I haven't even bought a smartphone yet although I may be getting one soon. It's mostly because I don't really go anywhere... I don't have a job or go to a school right now. I have no friends so I don't go out except for walks. There just hasn't been a point. I'm always at home so I just use my computer. The only reason I'm finally getting one is because it's becoming embarrassing not to have one, especially since I'm in CS and should really have up-to-date technology.

Originally Posted by Dianeva

lol yeah, it's more like $1500. I imagine something like that may be worth a lot and go up in value though so maybe it would be a good investment (because if the glasses-phone trend keeps rising the very first one ever made might be like an antique? idk).

Same with me, I haven't even bought a smartphone yet although I may be getting one soon. It's mostly because I don't really go anywhere... I don't have a job or go to a school right now. The only reason I'm finally getting one is because it's becoming embarrassing not to have one, especially since I'm in CS and should really have up-to-date technology.

When it comes to technology, keeping it as an antique doesn't raise the price it lowers it once the demand is low for that product, but depends on collectors, but who really collects cellphones other than an unlock phone shop? ...and google glasses?
Sorry to sound harsh, but buying a smartphone because someone else has it, is a poor excuse for buying it for yourself. I kept hesitating to buy a smartphone once i realizes many people has problems with em.
The only reason why i sticked with flipfones is because the phone itself protects the screen, for smartfones, nothing is protecting it from fall, or liquids from getting in it. I never buy technology just because someone else has it, it just not me, what if i get it and become not impressed by it's functions and i get many problems from it?
Btw, i bet google glass will get upgraded too much just like any other technology out there.

And then, the world was Dennou Coil.

oh god Saatchi everywhere run

Originally Posted by Abra

And then, the world was Dennou Coil.

oh god Saatchi everywhere run

Can't wait.

this is a really stupid s***!!!!!!!!!!!! well would you like to have that.....for example....would you like to be connected 24-0 a day your brain on some network that doesn't sleep...... would you like to be bombarded with informations all the time.... I think this glasses are really stupid it could only drive people insane....and drive them away from their consciousness and make them less and less aware of themselves and everything around

Originally Posted by Karloky

this is a really stupid s***!!!!!!!!!!!! well would you like to have that.....for example....would you like to be connected 24-0 a day your brain on some network that doesn't sleep...... would you like to be bombarded with informations all the time.... I think this glasses are really stupid it could only drive people insane....and drive them away from their consciousness and make them less and less aware of themselves and everything around

People are already doing this with phones. I don't see the problem. I'm pretty much connected to the internet 24/7.

Originally Posted by Karloky

this is a really stupid s***!!!!!!!!!!!! well would you like to have that.....for example....would you like to be connected 24-0 a day your brain on some network that doesn't sleep...... would you like to be bombarded with informations all the time.... I think this glasses are really stupid it could only drive people insane....and drive them away from their consciousness and make them less and less aware of themselves and everything around

I'm very conscious of my surroundings and aware of myself, and I'm only away from the information crush that is technology when I'm sleeping.

Originally Posted by Maeni

Can't wait.

....what is that anime, so I can watch it?

Dennou Coil ;D