For the full Google Glass demo
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 5:04 am
Nowadays, there is a lot of information available about us. Our data is, thanks in part to smart devices, accessible anytime and anywhere. Also during this talk, for example, I am able to request all kinds of information about the speaker in no time.
Ubiquity: Being Everywhere
However, there is a certain distance between ourselves and that information. A 'search' is mainly about the information that is available about you and not so much about your personal information. We are increasingly losing control over the latter. For example, I have no control over how readers interpret this article and what you do with this information (about me). In addition, there is a form of consciousness surrounding the request for that information. In this case, I consciously and actively choose to pick up my phone and look up information.
This kind of accessibility, “ ubiquity ,” is something that people are already very anxious about. What we may not realize is that the world of wearables is even more intimate. Searches as we know them are becoming more accessible, more automatic, and more immediate than ever.
Experience shows that there is a fundamental difference between carrying a handheld and carrying a wearable. A handheld, say a smartphone, is by definition 'remote'. We intentionally reach for our phones and consciously choose to use them.
Wearables influence our reality, in real time
Wearables break this barrier. We carry them with us all the time and they are always on. They are on our ears and eyes. They are an extension of ourselves and are able to directly influence our field of vision. Wearables influence our reality and have a direct, real-time impact on the way we interact with each other.
For the full Google Glass demo, head over to Youtube .
Imagine this. You run into a good friend named Paul on the street. You and Paul start a conversation. Google Glass can tell from micro-interactions that Paul is surprised to see you. His heart rate increases. During the conversation, you not only see Paul, but also all kinds of reminders pop up. His Facebook timeline loads and you see that Paul has just been on vacation. An app australia mobile phone number list reminds you that Paul still owes you $20. Maybe that's why his heart rate spontaneously increases. No matter how you look at it, all these streams of information directly influence the conversation you have with Paul.
This form is still quite innocent. But what happens, for example, during a job interview or a hearing? Who has access to which information and who decides when it is most appropriate? According to Healey, we are slowly losing control over our privacy in the context of social interactions.
Strengthening the senses
At the end of her talk, Healey speculates on the potential of wearables to enhance our lives. What if wearables were able to enhance our senses? Could we in the future scan through crowds to find our social matches? Could we hear private conversations thanks to technologically enhanced hearing? Is this possible and do we even want it?
The advent of wearables raises more questions than answers. Let's take back control of our data and get answers to our questions about accessibility and data exchange quickly. Before wearables are available to consumers. And that while Google Glass is practically already on the shelves.
Photo intro is Lisa for I/O for Keynote by Frankwatching, used under CC BY , cropped from original.
Ubiquity: Being Everywhere
However, there is a certain distance between ourselves and that information. A 'search' is mainly about the information that is available about you and not so much about your personal information. We are increasingly losing control over the latter. For example, I have no control over how readers interpret this article and what you do with this information (about me). In addition, there is a form of consciousness surrounding the request for that information. In this case, I consciously and actively choose to pick up my phone and look up information.
This kind of accessibility, “ ubiquity ,” is something that people are already very anxious about. What we may not realize is that the world of wearables is even more intimate. Searches as we know them are becoming more accessible, more automatic, and more immediate than ever.
Experience shows that there is a fundamental difference between carrying a handheld and carrying a wearable. A handheld, say a smartphone, is by definition 'remote'. We intentionally reach for our phones and consciously choose to use them.
Wearables influence our reality, in real time
Wearables break this barrier. We carry them with us all the time and they are always on. They are on our ears and eyes. They are an extension of ourselves and are able to directly influence our field of vision. Wearables influence our reality and have a direct, real-time impact on the way we interact with each other.
For the full Google Glass demo, head over to Youtube .
Imagine this. You run into a good friend named Paul on the street. You and Paul start a conversation. Google Glass can tell from micro-interactions that Paul is surprised to see you. His heart rate increases. During the conversation, you not only see Paul, but also all kinds of reminders pop up. His Facebook timeline loads and you see that Paul has just been on vacation. An app australia mobile phone number list reminds you that Paul still owes you $20. Maybe that's why his heart rate spontaneously increases. No matter how you look at it, all these streams of information directly influence the conversation you have with Paul.
This form is still quite innocent. But what happens, for example, during a job interview or a hearing? Who has access to which information and who decides when it is most appropriate? According to Healey, we are slowly losing control over our privacy in the context of social interactions.
Strengthening the senses
At the end of her talk, Healey speculates on the potential of wearables to enhance our lives. What if wearables were able to enhance our senses? Could we in the future scan through crowds to find our social matches? Could we hear private conversations thanks to technologically enhanced hearing? Is this possible and do we even want it?
The advent of wearables raises more questions than answers. Let's take back control of our data and get answers to our questions about accessibility and data exchange quickly. Before wearables are available to consumers. And that while Google Glass is practically already on the shelves.
Photo intro is Lisa for I/O for Keynote by Frankwatching, used under CC BY , cropped from original.