For one-day-only in mid April, Google Glass was made available online to U.S. residents over 18 - for a mere $1,500.00 plus tax and shipping. Google hasn't shared sales numbers, only announcing that they sold out of the "Cotton” white frames.
The ultra-hip device with its teensy screen can discreetly perform most of the functions of a smartphone, including displaying web content, sending messages, placing video calls, and shooting photos/video. But as with most just-out-of-the-gate innovations, questions about privacy, safety and security are already being raised.
Which leads us to ask: “Is There a Glass Ceiling?”
• Glass Block: The 5 Point Café, a Seattle restaurant/bar, has already banned them ("If you’re one to blow your savings on a pair...plan on removing them before you enter The 5 Point."). Other eateries were quick to follow suit.
• Safety Glass: In spite of (still) limited numbers of Google Glass on the street, there are growing reports of people having them snatched off their face.
• Glass Action: Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia are among some of the states considering laws to ban driving with Google Glass. Surely more will surely follow suit.
• Glass House: In a Columbus, Ohio movie house, a prescription-Glass wearing customer was detained and interrogated by Homeland Security after being suspected of movie piracy. AMC followed up with: "Wearing a device that has the capability to record video is not appropriate at the movie theater."
As is the case with most innovations, the limits will be tested, calibrated and re-calibrated to protect users from themselves – and us from them. As in, “one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.” But we can only wonder how high the Glass ceiling will be?
