[sologoub]

This debate about knowing when Glass is recording puzzles me a bit. We have an established way to indicate that a device is recording across both camcorders and webcams on laptops - a small light indicating when the camera is on.

On most camcorders it's a small red light. On Macs it's green.

Glass has an indicator towards the back that is poorly visible. Just move it to the front and maybe make it a little brighter.

Last I checked, no one is running away from a person walking around with a camcorder that's not on. When it is on, it's easy to see and step out of the view.

[nhayes-roth]

Personally, I no longer trust these established indicators. I now feel justified in assuming that backdoors are built into most systems and that Glass could be recording at any time, without my approval and without any indication.

[arrrg]

It’s possible to wire the LED directly to the power of the camera. That way if the camera receives power the LED is also on. There is no way to change this behaviour in software. (This is how the indicator lights on Macs and presumably many other indicator lights are wired up.)

[e12e]

No, but it is comparatively easy to change this behaviour in hardware, so what's the point? Having an indicator that, "very often" works, is in some ways worse than not having an indicator at all...

[arrrg]

Uhhhh … how so?

Yeah, if someone has actual physical access to your device they might be able to detach the LED. Not easy to do – but imaginable. But that is hardly an in any way relevant scenario.

[pedrocr]

Are you serious or cracking a joke? I honestly can't tell. Because it seemed like you were slowly describing how to turn the supposedly cool and hip google glass into the borg headset:

http://www.startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200509/ds9-401-l...

I don't think I could pull this look quite as well as Patrick Stewart :)

[aaronbrethorst]

http://www.geekwire.com/2012/seattles-creepy-cameraman-pushe...