A Seattle-based restaurant has kicked out an Explorer for using Google Glass in its premises.
On Thursday, November 21, Lost Lake Café & Lounge kicked out a patron for wearing Google Glass.
Nick Starr, who is a video teleconference network engineer, was asked to take off the Google Glass when he went to dine at the restaurant with a friend. The patron had apparently worn the Google Glass before and the staff had been curious. However, this time round, Starr was told that the owner's other restaurant (The 5 Point Café) does not allow Google Glass and he would have to remove the same or exit Lost Lake Café & Lounge.
"We begin looking at the menu and a woman who works there comes up to us and tells me that the owner's other restaurant doesn't allow Google Glass and that I would have to either put it away (it doesn't fold up btw) or leave," notes Starr's Facebook post. "I inform her that I am well aware of the policy at The 5 Point Cafe but asked to see where it was policy for Glass to be disallowed at Lost Lake. She said she couldn't provide any and when asked to speak with management she stated she was the night manager. I again inform her that the two venues are different and have different policies. She refuses and I leave."
As restaurants continue to grapple with technology, Lost Lake, which is owned by David Meinert is in the thick of controversy. Earlier in March this year, Meinert caused a stir with his Google Glass policy when he barred Google Glass from another of his restaurants - The 5 Point Cafe.
Even before Google Glass was made available to Explorers, Meinert announced that customers could not wear it to The 5 Point Café.
Now Lost Lake Café & Lounge has posted on its Facebook page explaining the situation.
"We recently had to ask a rude customer to leave because of their insistence on wearing and operating Google Glasses inside the restaurant. So for the record, here's Our Official Policy on Google Glass:
We kindly ask our customers to refrain from wearing and operating Google Glasses inside Lost Lake. We also ask that you not videotape anyone using any other sort of technology. If you do wear your Google Glasses inside, or film or photograph people without their permission, you will be asked to stop, or leave," read its Facebook post.
The response to the ban on Google Glass by the restaurant has been mixed, but Lost Lake and Meinert are standing their ground.
"Laws regarding the use of new technology are lagging, so we need to make rules now," said Lost Lake.
Meinert too responded to Starr's grievances and said, "We're not anti-Glass, they are useful in all sorts of ways. We just think there should be some rules about them. Sorry for the hassle. Please respect others."
