Meta’s Augmented Reality Glasses (Sentiment Analysis)

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Sentiment analysis from Meta & Ray-Ban’s AR Glasses

Discussion on Potential Applications and Challenges of Smart Glasses:

Some key points mentioned in the discussion include:

  1. Changing Gait for Anonymity: Some users suggest that changing one's gait or adopting a costume that alters the body and face's appearance, like dressing up as "V" from V for Vendetta, could help maintain anonymity when wearing smart glasses.
  2. Countermeasures and Privacy: There's discussion about the difficulty of sharing effective countermeasures against surveillance, especially given the strong incentives for secrecy, particularly in military applications. The importance of encryption and privacy in civilian tech is highlighted.
  3. Protective Wearables: Several commenters mention science fiction examples of wearables designed to protect privacy from surveillance cameras, such as "abglanz" from "The Mountain in the Sea" and "gevulot" from "Quantum Thief."
  4. Anti-Surveillance Fashion: There's also mention of real-world efforts like Adam Harvey's "CV Dazzle" and other anti-surveillance fashion designs that aim to thwart facial recognition algorithms.
  5. Military and Privacy: The discussion touches on the idea that military personnel might be motivated to protect themselves from tracking, leading to the development of counter-surveillance tech.
  6. Concepts from Science Fiction: Several works of science fiction are cited, including "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell," "A Scanner Darkly," "Daemon / Freedom," and "Quantum Thief," which explore themes related to privacy and surveillance.
  7. Voice Commands and Smart Glasses: The potential for using voice commands to interact with smart glasses and capture images or video hands-free is discussed, highlighting situations where this could be advantageous.
  8. Comparison to Phone Usage: Some commenters suggest that capturing images or video using smart glasses might be less cumbersome than using a smartphone in certain situations, such as when both hands are occupied or when wearing gloves.
  9. Phone vs. Glasses for Image Capture: The debate on whether smartphones or smart glasses are more suitable for specific image capture scenarios, such as documentation, is ongoing.

Overall, the discussion reflects various viewpoints on the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating smart glasses into daily life, with a focus on privacy, convenience, and practical use cases.

Public Sentiment Around Meta's Smart Sunglasses Release:

The public sentiment around the Meta product release, which appears to be smart sunglasses, is mixed. Here's a summary of the sentiments expressed in the comments:

  1. Pricing: There is discussion about the pricing of the product, with some users finding it interesting. The comparison is made to the base Wayfarer model from Ray-Ban, suggesting that the Meta product offers additional features like a camera and headphones for a higher price.
  2. Concerns about Cameras: Some users express concerns about the inclusion of a camera in the sunglasses. They mention that they understand why companies want to include such features for data collection, but they question the need for consumers to have cameras recording everything they do.
  3. Quality of Sunglasses: There is a discussion about the quality of Ray-Ban sunglasses, with some users expressing disappointment in the newer models, which they consider to be of lower quality compared to older versions. Others argue that modern materials and technologies have improved the quality of sunglasses.
  4. Alternative Sunglasses Brands: Users share their preferences for other sunglasses brands, such as Maui Jim, Matsuda, and Jacques Marie Mage, suggesting that there are alternatives to consider.
  5. Bone Conduction Headphones: Some users discuss the benefits of bone-conduction headphones for activities like hiking, suggesting that these might be a good option for those interested in audio features in sunglasses.
  6. Scratch Resistance: A user mentions that glass lenses are more scratch-resistant compared to plastic lenses, highlighting a potential advantage of older sunglass materials.
  7. Privacy and Surveillance: There is a broader discussion about the privacy implications of wearable technology with built-in cameras and sensors. Some users express concerns about the potential for increased surveillance and data collection.
  8. Desire for Non-Tech Version: One user mentions that they would prefer a non-tech version of the sunglasses and would be willing to pay more for it.
  9. Business Strategy: Speculation arises about the business strategy behind the product, with suggestions that the real value lies in data collection rather than hardware sales.
  10. Countermeasures: A user suggests the need for personal scramblers or technologies that protect individuals from appearing in someone else's content without explicit consent, in response to concerns about increasing surveillance.

Overall, the sentiment appears to be a mix of curiosity, skepticism, and concerns about privacy in relation to the new product. Some users express interest in the features, while others question the need for certain technologies in sunglasses.

From the published thread in Hacker News: