Google Glass, being as disruptive as it is, faces many roadblocks ahead, of which the most important one may be its social implications. In a recent interview with the BBC, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt touched upon Glass, saying that there is no doubt it will require some rewriting of social rules.
"The fact of the matter is we'll have to develop some new social etiquette. It's obviously not appropriate to wear these glasses in situations where recording is not correct, and indeed you already have this problem already with phones," Schmidt said.
Glass is already running into opposition, despite the fact it has just hit a public beta testing phase with its Explorers program, as many voice their concern about invasions of privacy and the distractive nature of such a device. Casinos, movie theaters, and strip clubs have voiced their distaste for such a discreet recording tool, with some saying they will ban Glass on their premises.
"Companies like Google have a very important responsibility to keep your information safe. You have a responsibility as well: to understand what you are doing and how you are doing it and obey appropriately and also keep everything up to date," Schmidt went on to say in the interview.
Google has also released a statement warning some of potential health risks.
Glass was originally expected to publicly launch by the end of 2013, but in the same interview, Schmidt mentioned the device is still a "year-ish" away, meaning it could be until 2014 before it's made available for commercial purchase. Glass comes with 12GB of usable memory, a 5-megapixel camera that can record in 1080p, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a bone conduction transducer, which delivers audio straight into the skull. The augmented eyewear will run a version of Android.
You can listen to the interview at BBC.