IT Class paper on Google Glass

Google Glass

            Google Glass is a wearable computer that is integrated into a headgear that is worn resting on the nose like a pair of eyeglasses. This innovative product is not yet available to the general consumer, but has been promoted by its manufacturer and has been written about extensively in the media (Ackerman, 2013, p. 28). A prism screen on the headgear allows the user to see a screen in the upper right corner of their field of vision while moving around, interacting with others, and using their hands for other activities. A camera and microphone allows the user to record video and audio with the touch of a pad on the earpiece or a voice command.  Many software applications for Google Glass have been developed or are currently under development.  Google Glass can effectively recording the user’s daily life and interactions with others and this has triggered fears about privacy, particularly the concern that people will be recorded without giving permission and that the information will be vulnerable when it is stored in a cloud by Google (Davies, 2013).  On the positive side, Google Glass, and other versions being developed by competitors, could potentially be useful and widely-used devices, given that they provide much of what people already find useful in other mobile devices, but with the added capability of providing users total recall of their experiences, augmented reality, and near instant delivery of information to their field of vision all day long (Rivington, 2013).

Background

            Google Glass is a form of wearable technology, but it is not the first time wearable technology has been developed. A famous example of a wearable computer was built and used by a mathematician to win at the casino game roulette by predicting where the roulette ball would land (Davies, 2013). As a wearable recording device it also has precedent in the pinhole camera (Davies, 2013) and the wearing of audio recorders to surreptitiously record conversations. Other capabilities of Google Glass, such as Internet access, recording of video, sending and receiving text messages and email are an extension of technologies and applications developed for desktops, laptops and smartphones (Campbell, 2013).  Google, the maker of Google Glass has made the prototype, called the Explorer, available to software developers who paid $1500 for the limited edition and the first Google Glass for the general consumer is expected to be out in 2014, if not late 2013 (Rivington, 2013).

Current Google Glass Technology and Use

            At this time Google Glass is being used by developers for testing and designing software to be used on the Google Glass platform.  In the January, 2013 issue of 2013 Tech to Watch Elise Ackerman pointed out that the headgear “has much the same electronics you’d find in an Android phone” (2013).  The features that are new are that it is wearable, allowing the user to see content on the screen and use other features while moving around and handling other activities that require hands. The video recording is from the perspective of the user and allow the user to be a part of the recorded video.  This aspect is clearly demonstrated by a TED Talk by one of Google’s founders, Sergey Brin (2013) where he is able to tape himself playing with a dog, and his hands are clearly in the picture.

The fact that Google Glass is wearable, and therefore in the visual field of the user also means that messages, email and alerts can be received all day long without having to be tied to a laptop or listening for an alert sound from a cellphone. By just glancing up to the right, a user can see content delivered to the screen.  Several applications are being developed to take advantage of this feature, such as a New York Times application that will deliver headlines (Campbell, 2013). Another application, developed by Google, called “Hangout” allows videoconferencing with friends that takes advantage of the camera, allowing friends to see what the user is looking at while carrying on a conversation hands-free (Rivington, 2013).

Security

            As this is a new technology, there are likely to be a host of security flaws that are yet undiscovered or undisclosed. Just as browser cookies are used to track usage patterns on the Internet, there will likely be methods used to track the physical whereabouts and interests of Google Glass users.  It might be possible for the data recorded through the microphone or camera to be transmitted to a third party who could use it for malicious reasons.  Given the other sensory tools, such as the gyroscope, it could even gather information about the user’s specific direction of gaze as well as location. It has also been suggested that the device could he used with facial recognition software, enabling Google or third parties to collect data about who the user is interacting with, especially given that information from Google Glass, such as videos, will be stored in cloud computing. Cloud computing, whether or not used with Google Glass, introduces privacy concerns such as who controls the data and whether or not there is a mechanism for deleting the data permanently (Hayes, 2008).  Another security concern is that currently there is no way to lock or password protect the headset to protect the user’s data and privacy (Davies, 2013).

Legal and Ethical Issues

            As noted above in the remarks on cloud computing, one legal implication will be how the information is stored and how government and security authorities will be able to use the data. Just as phone records and texting records can be investigated by the government, it is possible that videos or other information about what the whereabouts of the user (through the use of the GPS function when the device is connected to a smartphone) could be collected. A security expert, named Marc Rogers, in an interview with Slashgear, (Davies, 2013) also points out the camera on the phone could be surreptitiously used for criminal purposes, such as industrial espionage, locating and recording information about security cameras, or other as yet unknown uses.  A particularly worrisome concern is the use of Google Glass for face recognition, a capability that as of now is banned by Google (Hsu, 2013) although some helpful apps have been developed using the feature, such as an app to help doctors recognize patients (Campbell, 2013).

Social Implications

One important concern will involve how the audio and video recording function is going to affect social relationships.  One concern that most people would have when they encounter a Google Glass user, is that they may be video and audio taped, although a light on the headgear will light up during recording (Rivington, 2013). Probably a new etiquette will develop for people to advise each other when they have the recording device activated.  An ethical question will be whether or not it is legal or socially acceptable to record interactions even if the user has no intention of publishing the recording. Also, it has been suggested that the fact that the headgear is always on will cause people to be more and more involved with the Internet, social media and other ways of relating through the computer, to the detriment of real-life, in person developing of relationships (Douthat, 2012.)

Future Use

            Google Glass has the potential to enhance education, change social interactions and improve people's professional skills by giving them real-time access to information allowing them to record all of their interactions and activities.  Some authors have pointed out that it will serve as a memory bank for the user, a form of total recall (Ackerman, 2013.)  Numerous applications are being developed, including games (Campbell, 2013), the ability to recognize emotions in faces (Hsu, 2013), and providing information about what the user is seeing in a form of augmented reality (Rivington, 2013).

Conclusion

            Google Glass is an exciting new technology that builds on the features of the mobile phone while adding in the ability to have the Internet in front of the eye all day long.  There are some legal, ethical and social concerns, but the technology is exciting and new applications are being devised that are likely to make the headgear as ubiquitous as the Smartphone.  New social etiquette and laws will need to be created, but the technology is likely to be useful and well-received.

References

Ackerman, E. (2013, January). Google gets in your face [2013 Tech To Watch]. IEEE Spectrum, 50(1), 26–29. Retrieved July 2, 2013 from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.mutex.gmu.edu/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6395302&matchBoolean%3Dtrue%26searchField%3DSearch+All%26queryText%3D%28p_

This journal article provides information about technological features of Google Glass and also discusses some of its functions, uses and possible security issues including how Google might use the data collected.

Campbell, M. (2013, May 25). Time to raise a Glass. New Scientist, 218(2918), 19–20. Retrieved July 3, 2013 from http://mutex.gmu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=iih&AN=87738709&site=ehost-live&scope=site

This journal article describes a range of specifications, applications and possible uses.  It is published in a peer reviewed journal and is reliable.  I can use it to give examples of features and apps.

Davies, C. (2013, June 4). Cracked Glass: Why wearables are the next security maelstrom. SlashGear. Retrieved July 6, 2013, from http://www.slashgear.com/cracked-glass-why-wearables-are-the-next-security-maelstrom-04284709/

This an interview from a weblog that covers the technology industry.  In this article the author interviewed a security expert about some of the security concerns involved in using Google Glass. 

Douthat, R. (2012, April). The Man With the Google Glasses. The New York Times, 11(L). Retrieved July 05, 2013, from Global Issues In Context via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com.mutex.gmu.edu/gic/infomark.do?&source=gale&idigest=de2248b45f9ce6dae7446cbde9a4393e&prodId=GIC&userGroupName=viva_gmu&tabID=T004&docId=A286419697&type=retrieve&contentSet=IAC-Documents&version=1.0

In this newspaper commentary the author describes some possible cultural, political and social consequences or dangers associated with the use of Google Glasses.  It can be used in a discussion of the social implications of Google Glass.

Harika & Iatha, M. (2013). Cloud computing in google glass. International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT), 4(4), 885-886. Retrieved July 5, 2013 from http://www.ijcttjournal.org/Vol4Issue4.html

This is an online journal that described some specifications and issues related to security.

Hayes, B. (2008, July). Cloud computing. Commun. ACM, 51(7), 9–11. Retrieved July 9, 2013 from http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1364782.1364786

This journal article has a good discussion of the security issues related to the cloud.

Rivington, J. (2013, July 3). Google Glass: what you need to know. (n.d.). TechRadar. Retrieved July 6, 2013, from http://www.techradar.com/news/video/google-glass-what-you-need-to-know-1078114

This is an article from a website called TechRadar that provides news about technology. This article describes some of the history of wearable computers and the specific features, the price of Google Glass and plans for it coming out next year.

Sergey Brin: Why Google Glass? | Video on TED.com. (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, 2013 from http://www.ted.com/talks/sergey_brin_why_google_glass.html

This is a video of a TED talk by Sergey Brin, one of the founders of Google and a leader on the development team for Google Glass.   While the video is promotional because Sergey Brin has a vested interest in the success of Google, it does provide a good example of the kinds of videos that can be created by Google Glass.  It can be used as a source of information about the quality of the videos as well as their characteristics, in particular that it allows the camera wielder to be use the camera hands-free.

Hsu, J. (2013, June 14). Smart glasses service dodges Google’s face recognition ban. Yahoo! News. Retrieved July 9, 2013, from http://news.yahoo.com/smart-glasses-dodges-googles-face-recognition-ban-173533687.html

            A good news article describing how the banned face recognition could be useful for interpreting emotions in faces.