Google Glass, the latest in wearable technology, has yet to be released but it is already experiencing a lot of hate from its potential customers. Legal and privacy issues as well as consumer hostility and apathy have caused the release to be delayed yet again. There have been only a few thousand released for testing and people are far from enthusiastic so far; they feel intimidated and violated by its mere presence -- here we take a look at why.

Glass Etiquette

Questions about Glass started to arise after people saw what it was capable of doing. There were several YouTube posts that gave people a glimpse of what it could do. Google Glass has a camera that is the main attraction of the wearable device. What it does not have, however, is an LED indicator, which could signal to let people know that they were being filmed. The fact that it doesn't have one makes both strangers and colleagues steer clear of people they see wearing Google Glass. This is one major issue that Google will have to fix if the product is to succeed, or even sell, in the gadget market.

Privacy Issues

A lot of people are wary of the privacy issues surrounding the use of Google Glass. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff did an opinion piece on CNN and compared Google Glass to surveillance drones -- capable of capturing video and audio files of everything that happens around them. Recently, a man wearing a pair of Google Glass was detained for questioning after suspected pirating at an AMC movie theater. In another instance, a woman was attacked for wearing a pair of Google Glass in a gentrified bar area in San Francisco.

The Facts

The truth is that the first Google demo showed a device that is far more advanced than what has been released so far. Google Glass is only able to capture 10-second videos. You'd have to press a button if you want to record for a longer period of time. Furthermore, the longer you record the faster you run out of battery, so it is highly unlikely that people will have it on while they are just casually strolling down the street.

For all intents and purposes, Google Glass is just a wearable Internet browser. It can also record videos and images, but it is not true that any picture you take gets uploaded immediately. It's mainly about getting news, email and other information updates much faster. Unfortunately, there are plans to give Google Glass face recognition capabilities, and when that happens we can expect a more intense public outcry over privacy issues.