As Google’s Glass device trickles out to developers and early adopters, debates about its use in public continue to simmer online. And if you think it’s weird to speak commands to a computer that you’re wearing on your face, or that there are places where wearing Glass is inappropriate, you should know that Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt feels the same way.
Speaking at an event at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Schmidt said that controlling Glass with voice recognition is "the weirdest thing," reports the Wall Street Journal. He went on to say that "there are obviously places" where Google Glass would be considered inappropriate, but ultimately felt that society would adapt and invent new etiquette and rules around the use of Glass, according to one attendee.
"It's so new, we decided to be more cautious."
Later, Schmidt touched on Google’s app distribution strategy for Glass, pointing out that the company would be pre-approving all Glass apps, and contrasting the approach with the more open market for Android software. "It’s so new, we decided to be more cautious," explained the chairman, noting that it’s always possible to open the platform up down the road. Lastly, if you long for the good old days when people could talk to one another without constantly staring at their cellphones, Schmidt thinks you’re out of luck. "If you like eye contact, I’m sorry, you lost," he said.