Google Glass Beta Update: Google Glass Technology Not Winning Over Public
Google's high-publicity and low-popularity Glass product has been struggling to find its place in the growing world of wearable technology. With ever-expanding uses in industry but a hefty price tag and privacy issues attached, many consumers are losing faith that Glass will ever reach a broad market.
In recent headlines, many developers who had been working on consumer applications for Google Glass have dropped or paused their projects "because of the lack of customers or limitations of the device." Large-name brands like Twitter quietly stopped supporting their version of the social media network for Glass.
The glasses with built-in computer screen were first made available to developers in 2012, resulting in around 10,000 units being distributed. Then in April 2013, Google Glass was made available to an additional group of developers, media personnel and other designated early adopters. The next month, the general public was invited to buy the product, but priced at $1,500, it severely restricted the pool of potential users.
And with a smaller amount of users, developers had fewer incentives to develop apps and other features for Glass.
Additionally, despite the high cost of the specs, consumers were also largely put-off by other features of the wearable technology. Commanding the device requires verbal communication, with many consumers felt uncomfortable with in public places. Also, the obvious red light that illuminates when the user is recording video got Glass banned from several movie theaters and from a San Francisco bar after patrons started a brawl over it.
It even seems that the first group lucky enough to get to try the glasses are not pleased. Used units can already be found for sale on eBay, sometimes for as little as half the original price.
This cycle of lowered consumer interest leading to fewer app developers investing resources into creating product for the device might mean that Google Glass' future isn't bright.
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