You could probably imagine the excitement that people felt when sneak peeks of the Google Glass were released in 2013. After all, this was something that you only saw in movies. So the idea of actually being able to step into stores that sell electronics and buying one for yourself was something that used o be a mere fantasy, something that ranked among spaceships and time travel.

Google Glass Introduced in 2013

Imagine having access to information hands-free anywhere you go. This is what Google was aiming for when they started working on the concept og Google Glass. And so they decided in 2013 that it was ready for testing. Through a Twitter message, people were asked to use the hastag #lfHadGlass so that they could start selecting those who had the potential to become  ” Glass Explorers ” These 8000 individuals paid $15000 for each Glass, and were fitted and trained to use them.

Public Criticism

Once the Glass was released to those chosen few, that’s where all the feedback started coming in. First, thee were concerns about privacy. People felt that Google Glass owners could start walking around, recording other people they meet on the road. The accusations even went as far as cyber warfare, as some believed that talking a picture of any malicious QR code could cause the device to be hijacked fron the outside. In some countries , there were also concerns wheter the Glass was legal because places like Ukraine or Rusia prohibits the use of any spy gagdets that has the ability to record information in an inconspicuous manner.

User Criticism

As for the users though, they have pretty much debunked a lot of the accusations that have gone overboard. For them, their criticism focused solely on how the gadget worked on a a personal level. For one thing, it does not have enough battery life to last you through the day. This becomes a problem for people who use it as they travel.

The camera was also one of the most useful features, according to users. Now, they don’t even have to grab their phone when they see an awesome view. All they have to do is wink, and the Glass automatically takes a picture. No moment lost at all. However , low light capabilities need a lot of improvement, and a fash would be a welcome addition. Some people also for higher megapixels.

The voice recognition system is also great, but when used outside, the problem starts. It just does not have the ability to weed out noise. One sterling example is the experience of user Cathie Reid. When she attemped to upload a photo of their Australia Day celebration on Facebook via voice command, instead of posting. “Hpping Australia Day!”, it posted ” I hope you all die!

As for Astro Treller, head of the project that created the Glass, he says that the major thing that they did wrong with the Glass was shedding too much spotlight to the program when it was still at its experimental stage. He does admit, however, that they consider this failure a good thing. They are now learning from the things they did wrong, and are looking forward to making quite a bolder and better comeback when they’re ready.

Image Source:

http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2014/01/20140124-GOOGLE-GLASS-FRAMES-0018.jpg