With the recent Glass Explorer kerfuffle, wherein a so-called Glass explorer was wrongly accused of pirating a movie while wearing his Glass to the movies, the issue of whether the device is good or bad is once again up for debate.

As with most things, the truth is that Google Glass can be both good and bad, it all depends on how people use it. Some establishments have already banned the use of Google Glass on their premises, without giving wearers a chance to prove that they are not Glassholes. But people have proven that Glass can be a good thing, and even very useful when it comes to doing work like sportscasting, getting things fixed with the help of an expert who may be across town or halfway across the globe, sharing conference sessions, among others.

What Glass owners should consider

You have a camera on your face.

On or off, the fact remains that if you’re wearing your Google Glass, you have a camera on your face, so it may make some people feel uncomfortable when they’re interacting with you. Seeing Google Glass, people will always be wondering if you’re recording everything that’s happening. So what can you do to reassure them? There’s no light indicator for when it records or takes photos.

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Let people wear your Google Glass and let them know how it works. Yes, it is very expensive at $1,500, but you can’t help people being curious. Plus, it can reassure them that you’re not recording them or secretly snapping photos. Google Glass is able to record videos or take photos by tapping on the side, or long pressing the camera button, or using the phone app, so you can explain to them how it all works so they don’t have to be paranoid while talking to you.

Don’t talk to air

It can be fun giving Glass voice commands, but do you really want people looking at you like you’ve got a screw loose in your head? The voice command of Glass is intended to be used when you’re getting directions while driving, or when your hands are too busy with other important stuff.

Say your intentions

If people are around you and you want to take a photo or video of something using Glass, make them aware of what you’re about to do. This way, if they don’t want to be photographed or captured on video, they can easily get out of the way. Asking permission? Am I insane? People don’t do that when they hold a camera or their smartphone! But that’s the difference, if you take a photo or video using your camera or smartphone, people know what you are doing and they step out of the way immediately. With Google Glass, they don’t know when you’ll be doing that, so be courteous. Also, you don’t want strangers ruining your shot, right?

Know your limits

Some establishments have already banned the use of Glass, so make sure you know which establishments have these rules in play, and be sure to respect them. Explorers have rights too, so don’t go thinking that you can’t wear them in public, just be sure to follow rules so as not to land yourself in trouble. Movie theaters, as one Explorer recounted, are one place where you should not wear your Glass in, while casinos, museums, and other places that do not allow recording or photography should also be avoided.

Creep alert!

Do not be a creep! This is a huge deal. If only one Glass Explorer uses the device for taking upskirt shots, down the shirt shots, or any other kind of voyeur shots, it will be something lawmakers will jump all other, and could result in Glass being banned for all eternity. Do not ruin the experience for all Explorers and don’t give people a reason to hate them.

Original source: The Wall Street Journal