Smart phones, smart watches, smart doorbells . . . and now smart glasses. Facebook and Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica partnered to create the new smart device. It’s a step toward Facebook’s aim of offering true augmented-reality (AR) spectacles.
Wearers can listen to music, take calls, or capture photos and short videos through the glasses. They can then share those photos and videos using an app. The glasses, called “Ray-Ban Stories,” start at $299. Despite the two cameras, speakers, microphones, processor, touchpad, battery, and more squeezed into the frames, the smart glasses weigh only about five grams (the weight of a nickel) more than Rayban’s ordinary design.
Hands full? The glasses include voice command options. For everyone’s comfort, an LED light on the glasses shows when the camera is on. That way others can tell when a wearer is taking a photo or video.
The social media giant has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality. (See Facebook Reality: Real or Virtual?) Tech firms including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple raced to develop smart glasses products. But the high price points and design issues of early offerings like Google Glass deterred consumers.
Facebook’s chief scientist said last year the company was five to 10 years away from bringing “true” AR glasses to market. Augmented reality overlays visual, auditory, or other sensory information or objects onto the real world.
AR is already in use in some applications. For example, doctors may use AR to show where veins or organs are in a patient’s body. Home Depot’s app allows shoppers to see how furniture looks in their homes—before they buy. Popular face filters add dog ears or colorful hair for a silly selfie. But putting that tech in glasses, rather than a smart phone, is a tougher endeavor.
Skeptics point out Facebook’s sketchy track record on privacy. The company says it won’t access the media used by its smart-glasses customers without their consent or use the content for personalizing ads.
Facebook touts the glasses as a way to stay connected to others.
“Ray-Ban Stories is an important step into the future when phones are no longer a central part of our lives,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg says. “You won’t have to choose between interacting with a device or interacting with the world around you.”
Smart glasses could be a helpful tool, but it’s important to remember that Facebook benefits from our continual use of their products. While humans need to connect with others, (Genesis 2:18) social media isn’t always the best way to do it. In-person interaction is irreplaceable.
Why? As innovators create new technology, we must consider how best to use it. Smart glasses could be a valuable tool—or another distraction from our physical and spiritual reality.
Pray: For the ability to use technology responsibly, wisely, and to God’s glory.
What?
Okay, has anyone read I, Robot? remind you of anything? Imagine the people spying on other people! Stalkers could snap a photo of you with just a whim!
THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!!!!!!!!!!
Wow
Woooow that's a pretty impressive idea! Wonder if it'll ever actually happen... I would like to see some of those glasses in real life.
@ Seth, true, but people can snap a picture of you anyway with a phone. so............
@mirela J
But it's shadier (no pun intended) you might catch a glimpse of them snapping a photo and file a restraining order but now people can do it in secret!!!
OK, so Facebook said they
OK, so Facebook said they will respect your privacy, so, what's the worry guys? *laughs* There's absolutely nothing to worry about, because they PROMISED. Pinkie promise, no less! So who's in line for one of these totally awesome, absolutely not going to leak your data, life, and privacy glasses? Anybody? Nobody? Hello? Oh, there's the neighbor's dog... *devilish grin* These'd be good for driving him insane... Make the neighbors think he's gotten some disease or something. I mean, what, he's just wearing glasses... (Side note, this actually sounds awesome, but Facebook is about trustworthy as Biden is coherent, so... nope.)
this seems similar
this is just like ready player one or a buch of other sci-fi movies. ha ha. this is so weird. just wait until there like the edith glasses from spider man. the days of privacy are over.
@jasmine
I have read the series ready player (one or two) in the second one wade has a pair of glasses almost exactly like this
hmmmmmmmm
more robots
Hey! I've seen those!
Hey! I've seen those glasses at Sunglass Hut at Mall Of America!
These are really cool and
These are really cool and they’re actually cheaper than I would expect
This is Mylee
I think they are kinda cool. Plus it is true that your phone gives you no privacy either.
This is London
Interesting a lot of pros and cons on this ☹️
12th comment (I think?)
This is cool, but scary! And why would you want to live your life constantly posting things? If people can use these things modestly, no problem. (But knowing people, I doubt it highly :).) It would be so weird to have people taking pictures of you in secret.
@Audrey, ooh what's that??
P.S. Looking through the slideshow I noticed that I have actually seen a poster add of this on our block!!
tech tech tech tech and more
tech tech tech tech and more tech ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccccccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Blegh XP
That girl's hair is SUPER greasy!! *shiver* That's unfortunate.
@Addie yah
@Addie yah
if I don’t take a shower a night in the morning my hair is greasy XP
But not like that
@Addie and Above
Her hair isn't greasy she just has gel/oil hair products in it.
Everything Smart
Sometimes I think technology is getting TOO smart.
Query
It has AR right? So... Projections when you don't want them. Realistic ones. Realistic ones when you don't want them... Ponder about this
@Caden W
Ahhh, the zombies are coming! *stomps on glasses*
@Hesperus D
.........................................................................................................................................................................XD
This is JENNA
I mean it is cool that the technology is getting better and these glasses are really neat, but the lack of privacy and other things...... I hope that along with this new technology there is also ways to balance/limit what it does. Such as the glasses can't take photos without some sort of sound or something so no "unwanted" photos can be taken without someone's knowledge. Idk I guess I'll just wait and see for now though. (ง •_•)ง
23rd comment
My Christmas choir was performing 2 hours one night in front of the huge Christmas tree in the shopping square. It was really fun, so many passers-by came and saw the whole thing!! But anyway, I noticed that random people were walking by in between the audience and the choir taking videos. They didn't even watched, they just held the phone and took a video as they walked by and then posted them!! It's so weird why people want to spend their lives posting things.
potentially a problem
That's really creepy. If Facebook doesn't keep its promises... -Lucy C.
@Scarlett R
Almost the same thing has happened to me! I had a dance thing at an art festival and all these random people were walking by and they were just taking videos and pictures of us performing and who knows what they're gonna do with them?!
NO MORE PRIVACY
so much for privacy! it’s being takin away from us little by little! watch out you being watched always be aware
NO MORE PRIVACY
so much for privacy! it’s being takin away from us little by little! watch out you being watched always be aware
NO MORE PRIVACY
so much for privacy! it’s being takin away from us little by little! watch out you being watched always be aware
$300!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
goes to show how much people want to make themselves look cool if people are spending $300.
How Awesome!!!
I have always thought that people should event something like this. Its like those things that you would think only exist in your imagination but with all the things being invented you dont even need an imagination ( that last part just sounded bad but its true)