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able comments are that the views might occlude or interfere with ordinary or
peripheral vision and hence cause automobile accidents. In fact, laws and regula-
tions prohibiting Google Glasses from being worn under certain circumstances are
already being promulgated. However, not enough empirical evidence is available
to know whether the favorable or unfavorable views are the most realistic.
It is premature to judge the device because it is not yet commercially available,
but the concept is of both technical and social interest. In thinking about the im-
plications of Google Glasses, it is fairly obvious that computers are now small
enough that they can easily be embedded in clothes or worn as glasses. The ques-
tion is, what benefits might they provide over and above normal computers, pads,
and smartphones?
There are many hypothetical features that may or may not be included in
Google Glasses but are certainly technically possible. The first and most compel-
ling feature would be the ability to have the glasses monitor the health condition of
the person wearing them. Factors such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure,
and other surface conditions could be monitored in a real-time fashion. With an
accelerometer, the computer could also check for accidents such as falls or colli-
sions. In case of a medical emergency, it could automatically summon assistance,
which might not be possible if the wearer had a stroke or heart attack and was un-
conscious.
A second potential use might be improved night vision by light amplification.
This is perhaps a bit tricky today but should be feasible by the end of the decade.
A potential downside is that most forms of light amplification for night vision are
somewhat bulky, but that is perhaps a solvable problem in the future.
A third potential use would be very valuable to those who are hard of hearing.
This feature would show closed captions for movies and television shows that
do not currently have captions. Also of value for hard-of-hearing users would be
to include capabilities such as those provided by Dragon. Naturally speaking, or
translating, spoken words into visible text would appear on the glasses.
This instant translation would allow a deaf person to understand verbal inform-
ation in close to a real-time mode. In fact, computers are fast enough today, and
will certainly be faster by the end of this decade, that real-time translation could
easily occur. This idea might be opposed by the deaf community, but since it does
not actually exist today, that is an unknown factor.
Yet another service for Google Glasses might be synchronization with hearing
aids or cochlear implants so that important messages such as storm warnings or
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