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Saturday Morning Chit Chat – When Did We Catch Up With The Future?

When Did We Catch Up With The Future?
When Did We Catch Up With The Future?

I am so stupidly excited about Google Glass I can barely believe it’s a real thing. If you had told me twenty years ago that it would exist now, I would have thought you’d spent too much time in the sun …or reading sci-fi.  In fairness, twenty years ago, faxes were cutting edge technology.

Initially I thought I was the world’s biggest geek about Google Glass (and maybe I am) but come on, even the techiest (I’m sure that’s a word …somewhere) tech person would have to admit it’s pretty cool. It also dawned on me that one of the reasons I was feeling geeky was because no one around me was really talking about it. Turns out, not everyone knew about it. I was chatting with my sister-in-law about Google Glass, essentially telling her what I’m telling you, that I am a total goof on this topic,when I realized she was looking at me as though she thought maybe I had spent too much time in the sun.  What I was saying didn’t make sense to her.  How could that exist? I have to admit, I hesitated. I wondered for a brief moment if perhaps I’d gotten it wrong.

112 of 365 - Google's Project Glasses
112 of 365 – Google’s Project Glasses (Photo credit: Yogesh Mhatre)

What if I had mistaken the enthusiastic reports on Google Glass I’d read months ago?  What if the more recent articles were about what it might be able to do in some future perfect world.  BUT no, the future perfect world is now and I love it.

I’ve always been a glutton about information.  I remember feeling sad that I didn’t have the internet when I was in high school or that it had not emerged fully when I was finishing off university.  The fact that I had full access to the Library of Parliament when I was completing my degree should make it clear I was not hurting for information or resources, I’m just greedy about all that wonderful data. Google glass means that not only is all that amazing information on hand when I want it, it’s interactive.  I can generate data while I’m experiencing it. Wow!

My husband, (always the voice of reason) asked me how I thought I’d be able to process all that stimuli. I suffer from, “Oh look shiny” so not an unreasonable question, but besides the point. Who needs to process yet?  Right now all I want to do is soak in it.

Now I know there will be naysayers, there always are when something new comes along. There will be chat about the potential for an invasion of privacy (not an unreasonable concern),  and I’m sure a long list of stupid or bad things people will do with the glass, but that’s not the point.  People will do stupid or dumb things with just about anything. Should we stop using photocopiers because there’s always someone in the office that wants to photocopy their bum? What about the amazing things people can do? What about educational opportunities or information sharing. What does the surgeon see when they operate? Where does the mountain climber look? A “day in the life” takes on a whole new meaning when you’re looking through each others eyes in real time. So, where do I get my Google Glasses and does anyone have an extra $1500 I can borrow?

If you haven’t completely geeked out about this yet, take a look at this video and say hello to the future.Google Glass

Last weeks poll results: 1oo% thought buddy glasses were a bad idea. Note: You could not find a less scientific poll. 🙂

[polldaddy poll=7263120]

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