Google glass

Glass at this stage of development is neither a smartphone nor glasses. Glass was originally developed in the laboratory of Google X , and the project manager to this day is Babak Parviz, who also monitors the integration of cartographic tracking systems.

Glass interacts with the user through voice commands (the basic command is “Ok, Glass”, after which there should be a request to perform some function; in addition, texts can be dictated through the headset), gestures recognized by the touchpad, which is located on the bow behind the display , and a bone conduction sound transmission system. The device’s interface was demonstrated by Google in a video published in February 2013, and in March the company used the SXSW Interactive exhibition to display the first third-party Glass apps. The manufacturer is working on a model of a headset for people wearing vision-correcting glasses, which will have a "modular" design with the ability to select the necessary lenses and frames.

Ultimately, the Google Glass concept should implement three separate functions at the same time, bringing them together: augmented reality , mobile communications + Internet , and a video diary . The first version of the glasses fully implements a video diary and only partially augmented reality and communication component. In subsequent versions, a more complete implementation of all three target components is possible.

Sound is transmitted to the owner without using the speaker, directly through the bones of the skull by vibration. ^[four]

Photo and video

Google Glass allows you to take photos (5 MP) and video in 1365p HD resolution.

Google Programs

Glasses allow you to run existing Google programs (such as Google Now , Google Maps , Google+ , Gmail ) and third-party developers ( Evernote , Skitch, New York Times , ). ^[five]

At the Google I / O 2013 conference, it became known that new programs for Glass appeared, including those designed to work with Facebook , Twitter and Tumblr ^[6] .

Voice Control

At the moment, it is precisely known about voice control in English. ^[7]

Easter Egg

Google has left an easter egg for users. If the user goes through Settings -> Device info -> View licenses -> clicks 9 times on the trackpad -> Meet Team, then he will see a 360-degree panorama of the Google Glass development team; in the middle of the photo is one of the founders of Google Sergey Brin . The panorama moves along with the rotation of the Glass user's head. ^[ten]

Google announced the release of an improved version of Google Glass 2.0. At the moment, it is known about adding a built-in mono-earphone to the glasses. Owners of the previous version will be able to exchange their points for the second version for free, also each owner of the first version of the device will be able to send invitations to three friends to exchange a new version of the points. ^[eleven]

Previously, it was believed that in Russia Google Glass could be categorized as special technical equipment and the turnover of points would be limited in the country. But the FSB denied this information by its response to a request from one of the sites “We inform you that Google Glass glasses do not belong to the category of special technical equipment intended for tacit receipt of information.” At the moment, there is no reason to consider the use or purchase of Glass glasses illegal.

Also, accessories with cameras that are capable of imperceptible video and photography, one of which is Glass, raise concerns about violations of people's rights to privacy. In many countries, they may be subject to legislative prohibitions: for example, article 376 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus “for the illegal production, acquisition or sale of funds for secretly obtaining information”. In February 2013, one of the Google+ users in his post reported possible doubts about the fact that Google Glass can be legally used, bought and sold, according to the current legislation in Russia and Ukraine ^[12] . So, for the first time it was pointed out that Google Glass can be considered a “spy” device, since with its help you can take photos and videos imperceptibly from people nearby. Later, the Security Service of Ukraine said that according to a preliminary conclusion based on information from the Internet, it does not see anything spyware in Glass. ^[13]

In March 2013, in Seattle , USA, the owner of The 5 Point Bar, Dave Maynert, became the first businessman to ban Glass from being privately owned. ^[14]

A Google Glass-like device has been developed at Dyson since 2001. The prototypes of the Dyson Halo glasses had voice control and could read incoming messages using the speech module. The development was curtailed, as the device was too massive and the company decided to concentrate on the core business.

University of Toronto professor and pioneer in the field of wearable computers and augmented reality devices Steve Mann in his article “My“ Augmediated ”Life pointed out that incorrect Google design decisions can make it difficult to use such systems for many people, lead to visual impairment and reduce interest in this technology.

In Japan, glasses have been developed, equipped with infrared LEDs, which protect those who wear them from being recognized in photographs and videos taken using Google Glass, illuminating the face of the person being shot. ^[15]

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Part 1 of Article 8) provides that everyone has the right to respect for his personal and family life. In this regard, many believe that points violate this right.

However, the limits of respect for personal life are not specified in the convention. According to the European Court of Human Rights , which applies this document in practice, “the concept of privacy is broad and cannot be defined exhaustively” (judgment in Costello Roberts v. United Kingdom, 1993), and “there’s no way nor the need to try to exhaustively define the concept of privacy ”(judgment in the Nimitz v. Germany, 1992).

When a question arises, the ECHR considers the fact of interference in a person’s private life in each individual case for compliance with the requirements specified in part 2 of article 8 of the Convention: public authorities cannot intervene in the exercise of this right (that is, provided for in part 1 of this article) , except in cases where such interference is prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security and public order, the economic welfare of the country, in order to prevent eniya of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

It follows that the Convention provides for protection only from the state: “public authorities cannot intervene ...”. Obviously, this category concerns such areas within which each person is free to develop this concept and fill it with a certain meaning. Thus, according to lawyers, private life is protected, but not from itself: privacy can be neglected or narrowed to the extent that at this stage of development of social relations are considered justified ^[16] .

• Indicator on the windshield

• Official site // Google
• Device Sync Service // Google
• Google MyGlass App on Google Play Store
• Official Project Glass Blog // Google+