Problems With Acceptance of Google Glass by Retail Outlets Continues with Theater Ban
Alamo Drafthouse which started life as a small movie theater in Austin Texas in the late 70s is the latest in a slew of businesses that are acting to ban the use of Google Glass.
In this latest move against the innovative eye-wear from Google which can record video, search the net and advise about weather while you watch the show or just use the prescription lenses, the Alamo movie theatre chain has enforced the ban for fear of piracy concerns.
Jerky Recording Should Make Privacy Concerns A Moot Point
This is not withstanding the fact that the Glass wearer would have to keep their head perfecting still for two whole hours to record a motion picture without creating a constantly dancing viewpoint.
Not even the most ardent private-copy viewing film fan would enjoy watching such a bad recording, however practical consideration seem to be overtaking common sense on this growing issue across the United States since Google began offering Google Glass to all US consumers who want it and can afford to buy the technology.
Knee-Jerk Reaction From AMC Theaters Too
In January of this year, a man was happily enjoying watching the movie he had paid to see when he was summarily directed out of the theater by a cop (in a posse of five or more cops collected outside the theater).
The man was suspected of recording the movie while it was running. It was subsequently discovered that the recording feature was not turned on when the man was yanked from the theater, no doubt leaving the cops with egg on their face. Rather than acknowledging their error, AMC Theaters now have a Google Glass ban in place.
Early Copies Of Movies Made In Asia, Not America
Anyone who has ever seen a bootleg early copy of the latest X-Men feature or other popular title will discover that these new titles show up with overlaid Asian-based sub-titles. Put simply, in most cases, film industry piracy is not recorded within the USA at all making the banning of Glass inside movie theaters kind of dumb.
Banning Going On Outside Of Movie Theaters
Across the United States, Glass is being banned in restaurants, casinos and even some strip clubs.
In the case of restaurants, it is difficult to see the reasoning behind this. Smart phones can just as easily record someone with the tell-tale flash turned off by using an app to do so. What are restaurants scared of.. that someone will record their menu for a competitors' chain?
Casinos always have security concerns and look for any devices broadcasting a signal, so this actually makes sense in their case and is not that surprising.
Some other venues like strip joints have long had a no photography rule, so banning Google's trendy eye-wear is in keeping with that long-standing policy.
Still, there is not a great deal of reasoned logic going into many of the actions taking place around the product. Motorists being pulled over for wearing Glass while driving, only to be acquitted in court later. You have to wonder where it will all end?
I do not need to be persuaded of Glass' awesomeness and potential - it's obvious from the tech perspective. However, people wearing it should understand and respect public opinion. Simple as that.
You may have a point there, but you're using the example of a cheating boyfriend or husband as your argument. I doubt that usage bans should be put in place to protect cheaters.
There are plenty of smart phone users who can record something when entering the restaurant, CCTV and other methods besides this for someone to caught on video.
The anti-Glass animus makes perfect sense. Google is using the power of money and marketing to make it look more appealing, but it turns out the only industry that embraced the gadget besides tech is po*n, both commercial and home. so far..
As far as driving is concerned, if or when I see Finland legalize Glass-driving, I'll say Glass is not a distraction.
