Google Glass:
Possibilities and Problems

Prepared for
Dr. Helen Waite
Director of Research
Technology Advisory Group

Prepared by
Casey Setzer
Tushar Arvind
Zach Harris
Hugh House
Research Department
Technology Advisory Group

December 2014
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MEMORANDUM

To: Dr. Helen Waite, Director of Research
From: Casey Setzer, Tushar Arvind, Zach Harris, and Hugh House
Date: December 6. 2014
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Subject: Google Glass: Possibilities and Problems
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Here is the report you requested August 20 on Google Glass’s status as a consumer product.

Since our task was to provide advising to the average consumer on both advantages and problems concerning Google’s wearable, our goal was to exterminate all personal bias and provide a report that, while providing informed advice, leaves the consumer armed with the information he/she needs to make an informed and personal purchasing decision.

Upon gathering our research, we learned a lot about how committed both Google and other entities are to pushing Project Glass into the consumer electronics arena, and came up with the general conclusion that if a consumer is interested in this bleeding-edge technology, it would probably suit him/her best to wait until the consumer version of this product is announced, with the added features and lower price tag Google has promised en towe.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to work on this assignment. As a group, we feel much more comfortable with the notion of Google Glass as a consumer product, and would appreciate any feedback you have to assist us in our growth as professionals. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us.

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 5 Purpose and Scope 5 Sources and Methods 5 Terms and Definitions 5 Report Organization 6 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF GOOGLE GLASS 7 Google Announces Project Glass 7 Explorer Program Launched 7 The Raw Cost of Google Glass 7 Glass Going Forward 8 THE CHALLENGES OF GOOGLE GLASS 8 Privacy, Not Just For the Consumer 8 Security, Between the Customer and Google 9 Adoptability and Long-Term Support 9 THE OPPORTUNITIES OF GOOGLE GLASS 11 Day to Day in the Digital Age 11 Being “In the Moment” 11 Saving Time and Money through Convenience 12 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12 WORKS CITED 14 APPENDIX 16

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Table 1: A few instances of vocabulary often encountered when discussing a product like Google Glass. 7 Table 2: A breakdown of the cost to manufacture a single pair of Google Glass. Source: Mashable.com 8 Figure 1: Survey on the overall opinion of Google Glass conducted by Google on July 7, 2014. 10

INTRODUCTION

Over the past couple of decades, few industries have changed as dramatically as the consumer electronics industry. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the rise of the personal computer proved that these machines were not just suited for an accountant or receptionist’s desk. These crème-colored boxes then shrank into the svelte, portable notebook computers more commonplace in today’s society. The smartphone revolution with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 signaled another shift in the consumer electronics space-the move to mobile. Now, in the year 2014, many people speculate that the “next big thing” in consumer electronics is a category of devices called “wearable technology.” This report concerns one of the most controversial examples of this technology, Google Glass.

Purpose and Scope

Google has created a lot of content showing many amazing features of Google Glass and goals for future functionality with respect to surgeons, businessmen, photographers, explorers, and the like. The goal of this report is to provide information to a very specific demographic: the average consumer. Instead of illustrating how Google Glass can help teachers teach better or doctors diagnose patients better, this report will focus on a common denominator for average consumers: everyday life.

Sources and Methods

Due to time constraints, there was not enough time to conduct primary research like consumer surveys or expert interviews. In locating credible and relevant information for the construction of this report, the A2HS group focused on secondary sources of research such as news articles, official information from Google, and published expert opinions. The A2HS group then digested this information with the scope of the average consumer in mind, and crafted informed recommendations around it.

Terms and Definitions

When discussing cutting-edge technology, it is common to get lost in a jungle of acronyms and jargon. Below is a short table of terms and definitions as they pertain to this report for the reader’s convenience:

“Wearable tech” | Wearable tech is the name given to a category of devices many believe will be the “next big thing” in consumer electronics. Typically, the devices in this category are highly portable, always-on computing devices designed to be worn on the body. The data that these devices generate is intended to improve customers’ everyday life with timely notification and analytics. Google Glass is one of the more popular members of this category. | “The cloud” or “cloud-based” | A challenge of extremely portable consumer electronics is their limited ability to process data. Creating a device light enough to be worn on the face yet powerful enough to process the infinite facets of someone’s everyday life requires that the raw data from the device be sent elsewhere for processing. “The cloud” in the context of this report refers to the off-device processing Google Glass uses to provide the services Google promises that it can offer. | “Cellular connection” or “mobile data connection” | Much like the cloud-based workaround for portable devices, wearable products are often too small to have their own cellular radios for communicating with the internet when a user is not on a Wi-Fi connection. Google Glass tethers to a user’s smartphone to solve this issue, using the smartphone’s cellular hardware and data connection to stay connected. | “Augmented reality” or “AR” | A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. Glass uses a small projector in front of a piece of glass that sits over the user’s eye, which gives the effect of a screen being displayed in front of the user’s face. The user is also able to see everything behind the image, thus, augmented reality. |
Table [ 1 ]: A few instances of vocabulary often encountered when discussing a product like Google Glass.

Report Organization

This report organizes information and recommendations to consumers into three sequential categories: the historical background of Google Glass, challenges to consumers of Google Glass, and opportunities to consumers of Google Glass.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF GOOGLE GLASS

It’s important to note that people outside of Google have only known about Google Glass for a little over two and a half years, so the timeline of Glass from announcement to market is pretty short. Within this timeline though, there have been some milestones showing some implications of what kind of effects a product like Google Glass has on society, and thereby the lives of everyday people. Below are just some of these milestones.

Google Announces Project Glass

On April 4, 2012, Google announced a project on its Google+ page called “Project Glass” (“The History of Google Glass”). In the post, Google outlined the vision for the project: technology should be there the instant a user needs it and out of the way when he/she doesn’t. Along with the mission statement, Google posted a mockup video of what Glass might be able to do at some point in the future. This announcement swept through the news circuits like wildfire. After all, the announcement of the latest smartphone or tablet is already huge news for consumers. The announcement of a brand new product category is something consumers don’t see terribly often.

Explorer Program Launched

On June 27, 2012 at Google I/O, the company announced the Google Glass Explorer program (“The History of Google Glass”). This program aimed to get prototype models of Glass (called “Explorer” units) into the hands of a wide variety of consumers. This milestone was significant because it was the first time Google Glass had made an in the flesh, working appearance. Google was now officially selling a product rather than a vision. Glass later went on sale for $1,500-quite a large sum of money for a product in its beta stage that didn’t have the capabilities of a smartphone for half the cost (“Glass Explorer Edition”).

The Raw Cost of Google Glass

With such a hefty price tag, many people wondered what sort of bleeding-edge hardware Google Glass featured underneath its colorful exterior. In May of 2014, Information
Handling Services believed it had found the answer. iHS carefully disassembled its Google Glass unit and published an estimate of the cost of Google Glass (Strange, 2014). The results made many consumers question the product’s $1,500 MSRP. Below is a table of IHS’s findings.

Component | Cost of component | Titanium frame | $22.00 | Display | $20.00 | Misc. box contents (case, USB cable, charger, earpiece & packaging) | $12.50 | 16 GB Flash storage | $10.00 | Processor | $8.85 | Projection screen | $8.35 | 1 GB of RAM | $7.50 | Plastic housing | $6.65 | Camera | $5.25 | Misc. internal plastics | $4.10 | | Total: $105.20 |
Table [ 2 ]: A breakdown of the cost to manufacture a single pair of Google Glass. Source: Mashable.com

Glass Going Forward

An important point for consumers to keep in mind when considering the viability of Google Glass in his or her everyday life is that the product is not quite finished. Google might have created some confusion in opening up the Explorer program to everyone (or at least everyone who can afford to spend $1,500 on the device.) Consumers might think that this is a completed, polished, and fully supported product like the latest smartphone or tablet on store shelves. With respect to the historical developments of Google Glass over the past two years in mind, it would be best for the average consumer who is interested in Glass to wait until Google adds features (a more reasonable price tag among them) to the product whenever they release the finalized, consumer-ready version.

THE CHALLENGES OF GOOGLE GLASS

Google Glass is a relatively new piece of technology that is turning heads, both in the technology industry and in the consumer world. With every new daring piece of technology, however, come challenges that Google must face if the product is to become a successful device that consumers will want to purchase. The first challenge is privacy, for both the user and the people around them. The second challenge is security, and what it means for the relationship between the consumer and Google. Lastly, the third challenge is adoptability and long-term support, in terms of projected popularity, and whether the device is worth purchasing even years after its release.

Privacy, Not Just For the Consumer

The personal privacy of the consumer is very important when considering any product. Since Glass is a device that can record audio and video without giving clear indications to anyone but the user, there is a chance someone’s privacy could be at risk just being around Google Glass. Google Glass is always on, always watching, and always recording when the consumer is using it. While this allows Glass to operate in a seamless way with its environment, this also means that a person’s privacy, whether it is the user or someone around the user, is always at risk.

Because of this, anonymity is no longer possible. At any point could a consumer with Glass simply use the device to record and upload images or videos of everyone around them, and it wouldn’t be hard to attach a name to a face. Facial recognition software is, in fact, being developed for Glass by third party developers, though it is not endorsed by Google (Arthur, 2013).

However, the biggest problem for Glass with the issue of privacy is that Glass affects everyone. It’s not a device that is exclusively being used by the consumer, because Glass requires exposure to the world in order to utilize its basic functionalities. Not only is the consumer of Glass using the device, but the people around Glass are being affected by it in some way, shape, or form. Because of this, many businesses around the world are banning Glass from their premises, citing potential privacy concerns, and those concerns are not without reason (“Google Glass ban signs”).

Security, Between the Customer and Google

Glass is relatively new technology, so not much is known on how well secure the device truly is. But in a day and age where anyone could be a potential cybercriminal, utilizing technology through various outlets to get your personal information, is Glass just another portal for hackers to get your personal information?

Security is always a big issue when it comes to any device, but Glass is another story. Since it has very little internal memory, Glass is dependent on the internet, using Google’s online services such as Google Drive, etc. If Glass is depending on services that already exist in the cloud, information that is sent to and from Glass is now accessible through another avenue; an avenue which has been in use for quite some time now. Potentially, this could mean that information from Glass could already be vulnerable, since Google’s online services are obviously not as brand new as Glass.

Finally, the biggest concern is how far Google is willing to go to secure the device. It is one thing to release a very nifty and neat looking device for the consumers to use, but it’s another thing entirely to ensure that the device is properly supported and updated as time goes on. As more and more exploits are found, it’s up to Google to support Glass to its fullest so that its users aren’t being hurt simply by using the device, and it remains to be seen how Google is going to handle that.

Adoptability and Long-Term Support

Wearable technology is already a niche market in most regions of the world. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Gear, the Pebble smartwatch and the Apple Watch tend to have a fairly small user base, and even devices like these are relatively subtle compared to Google Glass (“Wearable Technology”). If those devices already pander towards a smaller market, what kind of a market would a device that’s more “in your face” like Glass have?

To enforce this point, Figure 1 is a graph representing a survey conducted by Google themselves on July 7, 2014, showing the overall opinion of Google Glass from average consumers. Out of around 1000 responses, almost half of them had no idea what Glass was. On top of this, a third of the participants in the poll were neutral towards Glass, and almost 15% of people hated the idea of Glass (“What is your overall opinion”).

Figure [ 1 ]: Survey on the overall opinion of Google Glass conducted by Google on July 7, 2014.
Overall, this data is showing that one person out of every 100 actually has a positive opinion of Google Glass. If that’s the case, then Google will have to do all it can to improve Glass’s approval with consumers, otherwise what kind of future could Glass have?

To continue on that issue, let’s assume that Glass has a relatively small market, maybe something similar to the current wearable tech. What’s the guarantee that Google will continue to support this device in the coming years? Will they continue developing for the device years and years into the future, or will it just be another idea that eventually fails and falls into irrelevance within its own lifecycle? It wouldn’t be the first time that devices like this have existed, and Glass’s current future is unknown.

Finally, is the average consumer even willing to adopt Google Glass? With all of the negative attention it has gathered from the previous two issues, privacy and security, it’s no wonder people are starting to steer clear of Glass already (“What is your overall opinion”). It’s not a stretch to think that those issues are what’s causing such low overall approval ratings of Glass, and people who have no interest in buying Glass for themselves are distancing themselves even further from prospective users of Glass, which is causing a problem for Google Glass’s future.

THE OPPORTUNITIES OF GOOGLE GLASS

However, beyond the challenges, Google Glass can present many opportunities to consumers in many different ways. One must consider the day and age that we live in, where people are connected by personal computing devices from all over the world, and examine the way Google Glass could benefit someone who is a big part of that ecosystem. Google Glass can present opportunities to consumers day to day in the digital age. That level of connection allows consumers to stay “in the moment,” and also allows consumers to save time and money through the convenience that Glass brings to their lives.

Day to Day in the Digital Age

Google Glass is a unique piece of technology that has the ability to seamlessly be incorporated into the daily lives of many people in very subtle ways, but those interactions can have a significant impact on people’s lives. Glass can be activated at any moment using nothing but voice commands or even motion gestures such as “take a picture” or “check my email,” and brings a very fluid and seamless experience to the consumer (“Google Glass Commands”).

By using these commands, Glass can be commanded to take a picture, check email, or bring up GPS navigation statistics, and display them in a fashion for the user without forcing the user to use their hands (“Glass: What it Does”). Messages are brought straight from the consumer’s smartphone and displayed for the user, right in front of their eyes, and replies can be made using simple speech-to-text operations within Glass. This hands free access keeps people connected to whatever they’re doing, and keeps them connected to their social media and other venues all at the same time.

Being “In the Moment”

Glass’s key feature is the ability to stay connected to the digital world without needing to refocus to an external device, such as a smartphone or even another accessory. Glass brings the information to you, rather than you bringing your eyes to a separate screen. This saves consumers time and effort by removing the need to fumble around with a phone in their pocket, and allows you to capture shining moments that you come across instantly; moments that others may have missed with other devices.

Google Glass is a device that works with the user, so whenever the user needs it, Glass is always ready. There’s no need to direct attention to another device, because Glass is already focused on it if you’re looking ahead at it. Since Glass is overlaid onto your life through augmented reality technology, there won’t be another moment where you’ve missed a message or a call because you didn’t feel or hear your phone’s notification, since all you need to sense your notifications with Glass are your own two eyes.

Saving Time and Money through Convenience

Glass is a device that is always connected to the internet. The device lacks a way to connect by itself, so it rides on the consumer’s 4G LTE connection that is available on their smartphone, so no additional data plan is required (“Tech specs”). Because of this connection, Glass is always up to date on anything and everything the user may need to access at any time, and can always be aware of what you want, where you are, and the problems that the consumer needs solved.

For example, Glass could be utilized as a tool to assist consumers while shopping. Entire grocery lists could be written and displayed by Glass, allowing the user to stay focused on looking for their next item rather than peering at their phone wondering what the next item even is. If the consumer decides that the item is perhaps out of their price range, they could pick it up and immediately scan it in using Glass’s built in camera, and search for other price points given from alternative stores, both locally and online. Barcodes and QR codes are already in use for smartphones, but now a consumer can simply look at an item rather than needing to scan it in with a device in their hands, and comparable prices could be shown instantly at the consumer’s convenience. In addition, product reviews could be shown to the user, so that they know exactly what kind of product they’re buying and whether it would be a worthwhile purchase.

An integrated social shopping experience is just one example of Google Glass enhancing a person’s life through a consistent connection to the internet in a very convenient and hands-free way. Keeping both the world in the cloud and the world in front of the consumer balanced is what Glass aims to do, and the prospective benefits of such an idea could be tremendous with the right applications.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Google Glass is an exciting step in the world of wearable technology. This concept is bound to attract new fans all over the world; however, having said that, it must be understood that every step will not be without controversy and criticism. It is ultimately up to the consumer to decide whether they want to support such a controversial but fascinating product. Because Glass is such a brand new concept that’s made for consumers, any consumer that is interested in the device should take time to conduct their own research in order to decide whether Glass is something that will fit their specific needs and lifestyles.

Glass is still very much in its infancy, which means it is still up to Google and third party developers to understand the full potential of Glass, and plan for any “bumps in the road” that may and will occur as development continues. The future of Glass in the consumer market is presently uncertain, and it is unclear whether or not it will have a defined presence in society.

After careful consideration, we have come up with some recommendations to any consumer who many interested in purchasing Google Glass.

* Potential buyers should save their money and be patient. * This is due to the fact that Glass is still in development, and the cost is far too high for the “Explorer Edition” of Glass, which is essentially just a beta test of the product. * Until the product is 100% ready for sale, users should continue to wait and do their own research on Glass even well after release, and draw their own conclusions thereafter. * Glass should be compared to devices that the consumer already has, like a common smartphone, and determine whether Glass would be an appropriate accessory for that device, and whether Glass can do anything truly beneficial for the consumer, and make it worthy of its price tag.

Because Google Glass is still brand new and isn’t even finished yet as of now, there is not a real solid conclusion that anyone can draw, as things are bound to change between now and Google Glass’s eventual release date. For now, there are issues of privacy in public places, the security of information in the hands of a single company rather than yourself, and whether Glass is even something that will be able to stand the test of time. However, Glass brings many advantages to the table, like its position as a device that is on and with you at all times, integrating your digital life with your daily life, and experiencing the luxury and convenience that Glass can provide. In the future, consumers should look to Google to see what its plans for Glass are, and decide whether it is truly the product for them.

WORKS CITED

Arthur, C. (2013, June 3). “Google ‘bans’ facial recognition on Google Glass – but developers persist.” The Guardian. Retrieved 11/17/2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jun/03/google-glass-facial-recognition-ban. Glass Explorer Edition. (n.d.). Google Play Store. Retrieved 10/25/2014 from https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Glass_Explorer_Edition_Shale?id=g lass_shale&hl=en

Glass: What it Does. (n.d.) Google. Retrieved 11/12/2014 from http://www.google.com/glass/start/what-it-does/.

Google Glass ban signs. (n.d.). Stop the Cyborgs. Retrieved 11/1/2014 from http://stopthecyborgs.org/google-glass-ban-signs/

Google Glass Commands. (n.d.) Google. Retrieved 10/29/2014 from https://support.google.com/glass/answer/3079305?hl=en

Gray, R. “The places where Google Glass is banned.” (2013, Dec. 4). The Telegraph. Retrieved 11/1/2014 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10494231/The-places-where- Google-Glass-is-banned.html.

Strange, A. (2014, May 4). “New Google Glass Teardown Claims Device Costs Only
$150 to Make.” Mashable. Retrieved 11/14/2014 from http://mashable.com/2014/05/14/google-glass-teardown-150/.

The History of Google Glass. (n.d.).Glass Almanac, 1, 2. Retrieved 11/12/2014 from http://glassalmanac.com/history-google-glass/

Tech specs. (n.d.) Google. Retrieved 10/28/2014 from https://support.google.com/glass/answer/3064128?hl=en

Vanderbilt, T. (2009, July). “Smooth, Segway.” Slate. Retrieved 12/2/2014 from http://www.slate.com/articles/life/transport/2009/07/smooth_segway.html.

What is your overall opinion of Google GLASS?. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved 11/7/2014 from https://www.google.com/insights/consumersurveys/view?survey=ktscwuig7wf3y &question=2.

Wearable Technology, A Booming Niche Into The Technology Market. (n.d.). Sourcelysis. Retrieved 12/2/2014 from http://source.sourcelysis.com/blog/wearable-technology-booming-niche- technology-market

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