Augmented Reality

By Shea Garner

“My Instagrams have been so great today,” I heard a girl proudly proclaim as she snapped a picture of our teacher’s spread of Valentine’s Day cookies. I couldn’t stop thinking about what a ludicrous statement that was, as I couldn’t imagine her followers being all that thrilled with a pile of sugar cookies filtered through X-pro II. I guess this constant stream of the mundane is just a product of a generation that is constantly gripped to their smartphones, always feeling the need to share everything to everyone.

So what’s next for a world that needs to be reminded to stay off of their phones if they want to place an order in line for lunch? It seems that this technology is only hindering our daily encounters; putting a screen or a camera between our faces and the ones we’re interacting with. When’s the last time you went to a concert and truly enjoyed the experience, without feeling the need to tweet or record your favorite song and share on Facebook? It was probably a Sugar Ray show.

Well Google is looking to change our interactive experience with our phones (and technology in general) with their new product Google Glass. Glass is a small wearable screen that sits in the corner of the user’s eye, attached to a pair of hilariously unstylish frames. The screen displays information right in the user’s field of vision, allowing the data to seamlessly interact with the user’s environment. Text messaging, GPS directions, and recording and sharing video can all be done via voice command and appear in the user’s left eye. No longer will people be distracted by their clunky pesky smartphones, because with Glass sitting on their face, the interpersonal experience is back.

At least that’s the angle Google seems to be going for. Basically, with Glass, people won’t even realize when someone is being rude and checking their text messages amid a conversation, it’ll just pop up in front of their eye. Now you won’t even know if the slight chuckle they emit is in response to you or their boo in Michigan. If anything, Glass seems to only be adding to the ever-growing problem of technology interfering with interpersonal communication. What’s next? Your move Apple.

What are your thoughts on Google Glass? Let us know in the comments section below or by tweeting @jerkmagazine.