[ctdonath]

Similar sentiments were expressed with equal fervor at the introduction of various communications devices. The hatred of someone just talking on a cell phone was astounding when such devices began ubiquity, moreso when "hands-free" devices made a debut (someone walking down the street talking at normal volume to nobody apparent was very strange). Still causes tension.

No, it's not "different this time".

[existencebox]

I don't mean to play devils advocate, but that doesn't seem like a valid counter. One of these novel technologies simply changes the expected modes and observed behaviors of people in "typical social scenarios" and naturally, as you point out, put a lot of people off center.

The latter allows you to actively interact with others around you, even if only through the passive act of stored video, which IMHO is more than just a change in social protocol.

[alttab]

I think once people understand how these devices are useful, social norms will begin to emerge, just as they have for other technologies.

For instance, the car-phone. Well, now the cell phone. Generally, we understand now that driving while on the cell phone is not a good thing to do. It took 10-15 years of slow driving, cops thinking people were drunk but instead just talking, and fatal accidents before we began to understand the link and creating laws.

And it goes the other way. In the 80's and 90's, beepers were not allowed in schools because "that's what drug dealers used to sell drugs." Virtually every teenager has a smartphone, capable of way more communication than a 1 or 2 way beeper did. They - probably still enforce the beeper rule today even though drug deals happen on cell phones way more than beepers these days.

Actually getting to my point, Glass wearers that wear them into Strip Clubs, high class or pretentious bars, or other private gatherings where it has grabbed headlines for being a problem are learning this the hard way. Google's enemies would pay for bad Glass press all day every day. And I'm sure they do.

Wearing Glass today is stepping into uncharted territory. You have to be more sensitive to the capabilities of the device simply due to the environment and people's expectations (You are wearing an NSA face drone!). My guess is, if you understand what and why you are wearing it and you use some judgement it won't get you into trouble.

[smacktoward]

Just because society has been getting gradually coarser for years doesn't mean we should dance with joy when the next step downward comes along.