Glass has been surrounded by controversy since it was first unveiled by Google. From arrests for driving with Glass, Porn apps, dangers to your health and cyborgs to the positive side of it in hospital surgeries, playing games, capturing amazing life moments etc, it has been a rollercoaster ride for Google. The company posted on their Google+ page the truth behind 10 myths about Glass, in their attempts to set the record straight on endless rumors and speculations that they consider confusing and unsettling.

© Google The Glass mythsMyth 1: Glass is the ultimate distraction from the real worldMyth 2: Glass is always on and recording everythingMyth 3: Glass Explorers are technology-worshipping geeksMyth 4: Glass is ready for prime timeMyth 5: Glass does facial recognition (and other dodgy things)Myth 6: Glass covers your eye(s)Myth 7: Glass is the perfect surveillance deviceMyth 8: Glass is only for those privileged enough to afford itMyth 9: Glass is banned... EVERYWHERE  Myth 10: Glass marks the end of privacyHere is the real story according to Google

Glass won’t distract you from real life, it’s off by default but it's there when you want to look up things happening around you, as well as capture life’s big moments. People wearing Glass aren’t likely to be recording you, because for the moment, Glass can only record up to 10 seconds of video, and the the battery only lasts 45 minutes. Glass isn’t just for nerds either, but also used for firefighters, doctors and those who need to be more engaged in what is going on. According to Google, Glass will help people be less distracted by technology than the normal smartphone user, because those using Glass (Explorers) use it more efficiently.

Google also sets the record straight on Glass being ready to go on sale to the public: the final product is far from being ready and will likely look a lot different than Glass looks now. Glass can’t recognize faces, an intentional omission in response to public feedback. All apps are approved by Google before being used with Glass.

''Our Explorers come from all walks of life. They include parents, firefighters, zookeepers, brewmasters, film students, reporters, and doctors.'' © Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

Apparently, not just rich people get Glass either, employers often pay for them, or interested candidates have used Kickstarter to finance them or received Glass as a gift. Glass isn’t banned everywhere either, but merely the same places where cameras or smartphones are banned, like locker rooms, casino floors etc. They don’t mention anything about driving though, a touchy area I would imagine. Finally, Glass is, in Google’s opinion, not the end of privacy, when you put it into perspective.

What to take from this

In my opinion, their rebuttal against these myths are just superficial answers that, for me, don’t satisfy 100% of my worries. But I can appreciate that Google would try to clear the air around Glass to increase public knowledge, an important PR move. Google may attempt to come across as being a philanthropic bringer of technology in order to make our world a better place, but I think it’s still important to carry a healthy amount of scepticism in everything Google, no matter how many well-written ‘see, we are the good guy’ posts they write.

What do you think of these debunked myths? Are you satisfied with the answers they've provided?

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