Google Glass
Oh, how fun it is to joke about Google’s most public failure. Google Glass may one day be viewed through a clearer lens as the first foray into what could be the future of computing. Until then, it will be remembered as an ugly pair of glasses that sold for $1,500 and gave everyone the creeps for its ability to record people without them knowing.
Glass’ demise was caused by a series of failures, not any one reason. If there was a final blow, it was controversy surrounding the built-in camera, which made people fear their privacy was being violated. Glass was banned from theaters, bars, and restaurants, and at least one tech reporter was reportedly physically assaulted for wearing it outside of a bar.
Concerns about how people were using Google Glass led to the endearing term “glasshole,” which you can probably decipher yourself. Apart from privacy issues, Google Glass was too expensive to not be cool and didn’t offer enough functionality. Still, we could one day look back on Glass as a (flawed) pioneer of what might eventually replace the smartphone.
