The first smart glasses were Google Glass, launched way back in 2014. The product failed for a number of reasons, but the biggest of these was privacy concerns around video recording capabilities, leading to users being labeled “glassholes.”
The same phenomenon now seems to have finally caught up with Meta Glasses, leading me to completely change my mind about the requirement for Apple Glasses to have video recording capabilities …
‘Glassholes’ and ‘perv glasses’
Google Glass was an extremely expensive product with a number of flaws. The single biggest factor in its failure as a consumer product, however, was a major privacy backlash against their ability to make video recordings. That saw them banned by many bars, restaurants, and other businesses – and users stigmatized.
Given the history, it’s somewhat surprising that the same objections were not immediately raised when the first generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses were launched. However, that moment does seem to have arrived, with the devices now frequently referred to as “perv glasses.” That’s in no small part to their abuse by misogynistic men using them to secretly film women on the street.
That “perv glasses” label now seems to be becoming as prevalent as the Glassholes one was back in its day. Indeed, it’s reached the point where I personally no longer feel comfortable wearing them.
Apple Glasses without photo/video capabilities
This development raises questions about the public perception of other smart glasses launches – including the Apple Glasses expected to launch next year.
It had been suggested that Apple might launch them without the capability to take photos or record video. I expressed skepticism about this earlier in the year, but that was prior to the backlash against Meta Glasses. I do now think this is the way to go.
Additionally, I’ve been testing a pair of smart glasses with a display and no camera since the summer, and my first impressions were very positive. I’ll be following up with my conclusions sometime in the next few weeks, but suffice it to say, I no longer see a camera as a must-have feature in a pair of smart glasses. Indeed, in the current climate, it has perhaps become a must-not-have feature!
My expectation of Apple Glasses, then, has completely changed in response to this development, and I do now fully expect Apple to go the camera-free route. That is, they will contain a camera for Apple Intelligence purposes but not give users any access to the video – in much the same way as the new Audio Intelligence features on the Apple Watch give users no access to the recordings.
Do you agree with me, or do you think Apple Glasses will still be able to capture photos and video? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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