The growing backlash against smart glasses, or more accurately, camera glasses, has reached a tipping point. If tech companies and supporters of the technology (I am one) cannot reel in the hate soon, then smart glasses are ultimately doomed. No matter how good they are for society. They will become so despised that anyone wearing them will be a pariah.
In the last week, the debate has exploded, with the government in Australia now looking at the issue. Members of the public are calling for complete bans, which could lead to the loss of an important technology. It’s no wonder Apple is reportedly considering a delay to its smart glasses launch.
The Privacy Problem
The privacy issue with camera glasses should be an easy one to fix, but creeps have found a way around it. An indicator light to alert people that they are being recorded can be disabled, although in Meta’s case, the company is working on disabling the camera if the light is covered or compromised.
Although there’s no expectation of privacy in public in many jurisdictions when it comes to private conversations, it’s a different matter. Depending on the state, you are breaking the law when you don’t let the other person know they are being recorded. There are other laws too, but creeps don’t care about rules and regulations. The simple solution proposed by many online is to ban camera glasses.
It doesn’t solve the creep issue because they can find other ways around it, as pen cameras and other devices are readily available online. The privacy issue is real, and it must be dealt with as soon as possible.
Although the case against camera glasses is legitimate, it appears demand for this type of technology is strong. Kmart recently started selling an $89 pair of camera glasses with smart features. Despite being heavily criticised online, the Anko-branded product has sold out nationwide. I was in a Kmart store the other day when a mature couple checked with the service desk to pick up a pair.
So clearly, there is demand, but as I said in Sunday’s Weekend First Edition segment above, the pro camera glasses group isn’t making any noise.
Helping sales for Meta is the normalisation of the frame. The better they look fashion-wise, the harder to tell they are camera glasses.
Why Cameras Matter on Smart Glasses
The camera serves a vital role on a pair of smart glasses.
It not only records images and video of special moments or critical incidents, it informs the connected AI about the world around you. This will free your hands so you can work or operate equipment while still being connected. For those with low vision or who are blind, this provides real-time feedback about objects that touch cannot do.
The other massive bonus for smart glasses is safety. If a woman is being followed by a creepy man, then it’s a simple click or voice command to start recording. A 000 call is also just a voice command away. If you need legal protection, camera glasses can save you in court. If there’s an accident, you can record the event for authorities.
Smart glasses with voice or gesture control (via a wristband) are incredibly useful devices, but without a camera, they become less useful. Smart Glasses are probably the best way forward in a post-phone era. Right now, they are an accessory for a smartphone because the power needed to run them is too great. But one day, they will be standalone just like Tony Stark’s.
The Solution
There will always be a sector of the population that will never accept camera glasses, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. The technology is too important to let slide.
The tech companies need to ensure the cameras are clearly recording. The indicator light must be visible, and a type of manual shutter should be considered. This may impact the look and size of the glasses, but so be it.
Tech companies also need to set the privacy agenda. At the moment, it’s a low priority. They need it on their homepages and on the box. Face it head-on. Make it clear what’s acceptable and what’s not. Just like other cameras, I see no problem banning camera glasses from sensitive areas.
And finally, privacy breaches need to be punished harshly.
If this does not happen, governments will become involved, and that will be the end of yet another freedom. It will also cause massive issues for public photography, something we never want to lose.
Even if laws do not change, negative public opinion may lead to violence. There is work to be done.
