Google Glass is already generating a lot of resistance in the U.S.. Not least.
Google Glass were presented at the I / O conference in San Francisco May 15 (J.CHIU / SIPA)
The optician Alain Afflelou had better watch out. Madness that promises all the time in pubs for glasses may soon make way for the addiction to the new gadget techno concocted by the brains of engineers Mountain View: Google Glass.
We talked a lot, they did and unveiled at the last I / O conference, which annually brings together thousands of developers in San Francisco.
How far will Google go indispensable in our daily human connected? Part of the answer may lie in the latest discovery of X Lab, a laboratory robotics and artificial intelligence headed by one of the two founders of Google, Sergey Brin. This response takes the form of a strange pair of trendy sunglasses on the Internet to make queries identical to those performed on a smartphone.
In other words, just order their digital voice spectacles for various information, take pictures or establish communications but in a situation of augmented reality through a mini screen mounted in the frame.
How Google has orchestrated the buzz
To gradually raise the temperature and bring to a boil the techie community, Google has used the good old recipe drip-drip informational. During the second half of 2012 while the concept is nearing its final form (even if it nevertheless remains a beta version), the Mountain View giant agrees to drop a few glimpses of what his revolutionary mount.
Sergey Brin grants including an exclusive interview with "Wall Street Journal", in which it allows the reporter to test himself briefly innovation from Google. Nothing better to immediately create a feverish curiosity of all geeks on the lookout for the next technological breakthrough.
Beginning in 2013, new hot shot on the planet geek! Google announced its intention to launch a competition , after which 8,000 people have the opportunity to concretely experience the transcendental object (upon payment of the "modest" sum of $ 1,500!). Only requirement: imagine a use for Google Glass and posting the suggestion on Google+ or send a tweet under the hashtag # ifihadaglass.
A really smart move to generate buzz and join a fantasy future ambassadors Google Glass, eager to advance to possess the object of their lust.
Then some time prior to the I / O conference, it was the turn of mythical figures in Silicon Valley to be invited to try the magic Google Goggles. Seesmic founder Loic Le Meur, was part of the cast. Good pick! On Instagram, he enthusiastically published pictures of her children and her proudly wearing all conjectures about Silicon Valley.
Another gondola techie to post photos of him and Google Glass: Robert Scoble . Famous American blogger, it takes a picture in the shower with his glasses declaring have kept the nose for two weeks and not wanting to let go!
The profession of faith is not enough transhumanist
As always with Google (but other high-tech companies are not exempt either of the transhumanist tropism), the issue of such a technological innovation is immediately placed on the ground oh how rewarding the contribution of Google to shape a better world constantly pushed to the limits.
Since its inception, corporate phraseology Google has always been marked by this missionary coloring where the company works for the good of humanity. Google Glass, tradition is respected. Intervention Sergey Brin at a TED conference in March 2013 is symptomatic of the deep conviction that will bring even the gossip of Larry Page, the other founder, to declare more or less " We want Google to be the third half of your brain " !
While the Mountain View giant makes invaluable services to billions of people across its various products. How, for example happen today the power and relevance of the search engine by which all happened? For that reason alone, Google is irreplaceable and virtuous. However, it should stop singing hymns humanists around each innovation lay the brains of engineers Googleplexs.
Google should probably a little more acceptable than he knew in his speech the science fictionnesques incantations that feel like the "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley . It would start by assuming that the (far from being ashamed) that Google Glass (alongside Google For Google Fiber, etc..) Is part of the diversification projects potentially lucrative for the firm in Mountain View Instead of embedding futuristic preaching where the real issues are evaded.
A real financial challenge
Although still in the prototype stage, however Google Glass promises already promising financial horizons. The U.S. investment bank Piper Jaffray believes such as portable technologies ilk Google Glass could be a business opportunity of $ 500 billion for the company. As for IHS, an agency studies and forecasts, shipments of smart glasses could amount almost 10 million copies within three years .
The online news site Business Insider has itself engaged in scientific calculations about the market potential that could conceal Google Glass. Their report published in May 2013 indicates sacred outlook . Looking ahead to 2018, Google could hope sold annually 21 million copies. In the event that the sale price would be fixed around $ 500 (currently, the triple), the total would weigh an annual market of $ 10.5 billion.
In light of these figures certainly remain financial extrapolations, we understand why Google refines the image and attractiveness of its (perhaps) future flagship.
What about privacy?
Given these significant strategic, yet Google continues to fully capitalize on the infectious enthusiasm of the techie community and then spread the idea that Google Glass is a prodigious product for all of society. This techno-centric online is not new. It has always been the backbone of the communication to tout Google services and promote widespread adoption.
However, as the use mature, also comes the time for questions consubstantial with technological breakthroughs introduced by Google.
And the least we can, is that the company is much less verbose to listen and talk about some concerns and / or objections. Google Glass, a crucial yet jumps immediately to the eyes: the protection of privacy. Beyond the humanoid look a bit stressful as a carrier reflects Google Glass, one can legitimately ask what level of intrusion can potentially allow the use of these high-tech frames.
Despite the efforts of Google and its apologists for which the controversy has no reason to be hostile reactions have yet begun to occur quickly in the United States.
A bar Seattle has formally banned the wearing smart glasses within its precincts. Several locations in Las Vegas adopt the same restriction. West Virginia area even attempt to make it illegal to use Google Glass when driving. For a Los Angeles lawyer specializing in issues of protection of privacy, the controversy has not finished to expand: " This is just the beginning Google Glass is bringing about a good tussle. " .
Do not underestimate the degree of social acceptability
Like it or not Google executives so steeped their techie doxa, denial or the lower bound of the social acceptability of Google Glass could play their dirty tricks.
In this regard, they would be well advised to remember the unfortunate incident at Steve Mann in July 2012 in a McDonald's restaurant in Paris. Dressed up in weird glasses which he invented to improve his vision, he got molested by guards trying to force him to withdraw. The man was immediately taken pictures of the incident he has published on his blog , calling the passages excuses now.
Apart geeks perfused in search of the new "Killer App" Google Glass is already generating a lot of resistance in the U.S.. Not least. Just the I / O conference Google was in full swing a group of U.S. lawmakers shipped a very formal letter to Google executives about shadows raised by Google Glass, including respect for privacy and personal data.
Google Glass Project Director, Steve Lee responded with eternal pirouettes calibrated from elements of discourse systematically Argues by the company: " The Google Glass team follows the same rules on the data that the rest of Google in terms of management data collected by Glass " . In other words, move on and trust us to speak!
Google takes big risks to image
These projections are worried much weaker signals that Google would be wrong to underestimate. This is even more true that the issues relating to personal data and protection of privacy have become anthems societal mature. The time when it was enough to dream with technological innovation to trigger an aficionado fervor is over.
Although they are not as technology experts that Google engineers, consumers have largely grown in maturity and understanding of digital issues. This is particularly sensitive on the subject of personal data and privacy, but also addictive as new technologies have revealed behavior.
Google takes big risks image persistent fly in somewhat condescending about the people who are worried or link probing questions. Recently, two American psychology professors have published a interesting article in the "New York Times" on the potential socio-psychological disturbances that Google Glass is likely to generate.
Google side, however it is impossible to find any literature on the subject. The official website is a series of videos touting a rave universe decidedly too great. Implied: that which does not adopt Google Glass will be a retrograde step. Approach argument a little short to answer legitimate questions of societal body but also protect the commercial potential of these glasses whose interest is nevertheless undeniable.