Glass 2.0 will be developed outside the limelight
Google is halting sales of its controversial Google Glass, saying it wants to develop the next version outside the harsh glare of publicity. The first version of the wearable, voice-activated device was slammed by privacy advocates.
Consumer Watchdog — a California non-profit — said Google should not offer a new version until the privacy issues are resolved.
“Google Glass may have appealed to a bunch of socially clueless ‘Glassholes’ who were oblivious to our privacy rights, but the device fulfilled no real consumer need,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director. “I’m only surprised it took them so long to kill the program as we know it.”
Last April, the group issued a report that found Glass inappropriate for the broad consumer market and urged consumers not to buy the device.
By withdrawing the product from public view while it undergoes further testing and development, Google is adopted the methodology used by Apple, which develops products in secret and releases them only when they are in their final version.
Google said it will continue to sell Glass to corporations and developers but will not sell to the public after Jan. 19.
"Stalker's tool"
Consumer Watchdog said that Glass 2.0 must include privacy protections. The key problem with the wearable device, Consumer Watchdog said, is that it allows a user to easily make surreptitious and intrusive video recordings.
“Simply put, it is a perfect stalker’s tool,” said Simpson. “It’s difficult to see how they solve that.”
“Glassholes wanted the device because they thought it made them look cool,” said Simpson. “Now even Google gets that it didn’t.”
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ConsumerAffairs' founder and editor, Jim Hood formerly headed Associated Press Broadcast News, directing coverage of major news events worldwide. He also served as Senior Vice President of United Press International and was the founder and editor of Zapnews, a newswire service for radio and television.
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