Google Glass was an innovative HMD technology, but it failed in the market due to its voice-based commands, inconvenience in public, and privacy concerns. Future technological advancements will require a paradigmatic redesign and a new user-centered direction.
HMDs and Google Glass
HMD (Head-Mounted Display) is a video display device that can be worn on the head like glasses to enjoy large images. Previous display forms required a large screen to enjoy large images, but over time, smaller screens were required for greater mobility. HMDs resolved this contradiction by reducing the distance between the display and the eye. Google Glass is an ambitious application of this display shape.
Google Glass resembles a pair of rimless, semi-rimless glasses. The thumb-sized display is located in the upper right corner, flanked by a camera for taking photos and videos. The right bar contains a computer and sensors that allow you to perform simple functions like social media integration, directions, messaging, and dictionaries. These functions can be accessed by swiping up or down the bar on the glass, or through voice recognition.
On the surface, it looks like a product you’d want to own, but I’m skeptical of a product that hasn’t even been released yet. Google Glass hasn’t been on the market for over a decade, and in 2023, Google officially announced that it was going out of business.
The problem with Google Glass is the paradigm!
The problems with Google Glass include its inherent limitations, the inability to use touchscreen methods, and its high price. But more importantly, Google Glass doesn’t fit the modern paradigm. Modern society is dominated by individualism. People don’t like to be interfered with, and vice versa. In such a social atmosphere, the “sense of privacy” is even more emphasized. In an individualistic society, people are afraid of the eyes of others and try to avoid being noticed in public.
This is where the usage of Google Glass becomes problematic. Voice-based commands are not yet ubiquitous. Voice search is available on smartphones, but few people actually use it. Google Glass, however, works based on voice recognition. You select features by saying “OK, glass” followed by a series of commands. The very act of using your voice to command the device can cause problems. Since it’s common for people to only use their voice to communicate with others, the appearance of talking to yourself in public can be jarring and draw attention to yourself. This can make users reluctant to use Google Glass in public.
Other problems with using Google Glass
Another issue is the potential for Google Glass to invade privacy. The recording feature of Google Glass makes it difficult for the other person to know if they are being filmed. Google says that an LED lamp will light up when recording, but the problem still exists. Just as you’d suspect someone of voyeurism if they held their smartphone in front of you, Google Glass can create the same misconception. This can be especially problematic because Google Glass is designed to look directly at the other person.
Google Glass also doesn’t use a touchscreen, which makes it difficult to add subtle features. It needs to work with your phone, so you have to wear your phone in your pocket and Google Glass on your head. It’s hard to see why anyone would want to use the uncomfortable Google Glass when they could just pull out their phone and use most of the features more conveniently. Another problem is that it’s too expensive. It’s hard to see how many consumers would pay $1,635 for Google Glass.
Where does Google Glass go from here?
There are two possible directions for Google Glass going forward. The first is to disrupt the paradigm by getting consumers hooked on the product, and the second is to conform to the paradigm and redesign it to be more user-centered. An example of the former is Apple. Apple built a proprietary platform and forced consumers to use it when using Apple products. Although Apple’s platform is not compatible with Android devices, Apple has managed to attract consumers through innovative design. It’s hard to predict paradigm shifts, but if it happens, it will drastically change our lives and values.
The realistic direction of Google Glass
The second direction, user-centered design, is more concrete. The voice-recognition-based operation of Google Glass is similar to the already existing calling capabilities of cell phones. People don’t think it’s weird to talk on the phone in public, but Google Glass feels awkward because no one is listening. Google Glass breaks the ice by recognizing voice commands and responding to the user in simple sentences. This makes the device seem more human to the user and reduces the reluctance to use it in public.
New directions for Google Glass
If none of the above methods work, another option is to change the theme of Google Glass. Currently, Google Glass is meant to be an internet-based device that integrates into our daily lives, but redesigning it to be more of a privacy-oriented device could be an option. Add books, movies, YouTube, and social media connectivity, and turn the display into a big screen that fills your eyes, turning it into a device that allows you to relax anywhere. The nature of HMDs also solves the problem of uncomfortable posture with smartphones. With a change of theme, Google Glass could open up a new market as a portable device in the form of an HMD.
What’s next for Google Glass?
Google Glass is not a new HMD device. Similar devices have existed in the past, but due to a lack of technology, they were not successful due to their high unit cost, bulkiness, and weight. However, as technology advances and these issues are addressed, HMD devices could find value in the market again. Especially with the addition of transparent displays, augmented reality technology, and personalized voice recognition, Google Glass could become a much more useful device. It could even become a fashion icon. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be wearing Google Glass as much as we wear our smartphones?
