On paper, Google Glass sounds like a huge step forward in the technology department. Wearable tech has become a flourishing market thanks to smart watches, fancy pedometers and other things that can vastly improve our everyday lives, not to mention help us live healthier lifestyles. The idea of a set of glasses that could augment reality and show us useful information in real-time did not seem like that much of a stretch; in fact, it seemed like the logical next step. And with a company like Google behind it, it had a real shot of making an impact, right? In late February, Google created the "Glass Explorer" program which allowed developers and eager beta testers a chance to be one of the first to test out this new gadget. Thousands of people signed up and got their hands on this pricey piece of machinery. The results? Nothing really spectacular, I'm afraid. Although some users have been able to wring a few fun uses out of the new technology, for the average user, the gadget has come off as little more than an expensive toy. The wearable camera has been the main function that users frequently use; every other feature is left alone after the first week, it seems. And have you seen Google Glass being worn in public? It is not an attractive look. If you thought bluetooth headsets made people look ridiculous, just wait until you have a conversation with someone wearing a pair of those glasses. It's hard to take them serious, believe me. In the future, this gadget will be improved, expanded, and find more uses. As of now, it looks better on paper than in the real world. Much better on paper.
Ryan Estabrooks is a film writer/director and photographer. When he is not busy solving mysteries, he can be found working on his feature length film. You can view all of his work at the imaginatively-titled RyanEstabrooks.com
