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Washington: Google Glass, the US
technology giant's revolutionary
wearable computer is still months away from release, but there is
a growing movement across America seeking to limit and in some
cases ban the use of the glasses due to both privacy and safety
concerns.
"We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most
involving our youngest drivers," Republican Gary Howell of the
West Virginia state legislature told tech website CNET.
Howell has introduced a bill that would effectively ban the use of
Google Glass by drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle, siting
safety concerns.
"Last legislature, we worked long and hard on a no-texting-and-driving
law," Howell told CNET.
"It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new
things. They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled
drivers," he said.
Google Glass resembles a pair of traditional eyeglasses, but with
images displayed on the lens, it enables users to surf the web,
send emails, text messages, and record photos and videos all by
using voice commands.
"We are putting a lot of thought into the design of Glass because
new technologies always raise new issues," a Google spokesman said
in a statement.
In regards to safety, Google said in its statement the glasses
offer, "tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and
reduce accidents".
For instance, Google has said its glasses will offer turn-by-turn
navigation using voice commands to promote a more hands-free
driving experience.
But putting the issue of safety aside, a growing movement online
is concerned about the privacy implications surrounding the use of
the stealthy glasses that could be used as a secret recording
device.
"If the government installed CCTV cameras and microphones
everywhere, all feeding information to a central control room you
would probably characterise it as a privacy risk," the website
StopTheCyborgs.org said.
"Is it any better if it's run by a corporation and the devices are
attached to people's heads?"
Concerns that Google Glass could be used to secretly record
private conversations and activities is what sparked the creators
of StopTheCyborgs to encourage businesses across the country to
preemptively ban the use of Google Glass in their establishments.
The site offers downloadable anti-Google Glass signs and links to
contact politicians to promote legislation regulating the use of
the glasses prior to the launch.
The 5 Point Cafe, a bar in Seattle, was among the first to post
signs banning Google Glass on its premises in an effort to protect
the privacy of its patrons, the bar's owner said.
"It is still very early days for Glass and we expect as with other
new technologies, such as cell phones, behaviours and social norms
will develop over time," a spokesman for Google told the Silicon
Business Journal.
Google Glass is slated to be released later this year with an
estimated retail price of around $1,500, according to media
reports.
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