A wink can speak a thousand words or so it would seem in the case of Google Glass, which has just now received an update that enables the user to take photos with a wink.
Google rolled out, Tuesday, the latest software update for the Glass, that introduces a bevy of features, including one that enables a Glass user to take photos by simply winking.
As cool as it may sound, the Google Glass wink feature may again trigger privacy issues concerning the wearable device. To refresh, the U.S. Congress wrote to Google in May to clarify possibilities that people wearing the Glass might violate the privacy of those not using it. The company then allayed fears by explaining that non-Glass users will be able to tell if someone is using a Google Glass since the device's screen will light up if it is recording any information.
"Based on this philosophy, we've got a new setting that lets you quickly and easily capture the moments you care about with a simple wink of the eye. Whether it's capturing an amazing sunset on an evening walk, or photographing your receipt for the lunch you'll need to expense, you can now stay in the moment and wink to take a picture instantly," the company posted on the official Glass account on Google+.
"We're starting with pictures, but just think about what else is possible. Imagine a day where you're riding in the back of a cab and you just wink at the meter to pay. You wink at a pair of shoes in a shop window and your size is shipped to your door. You wink at a cookbook recipe and the instructions appear right in front of you - hands-free, no mess, no fuss," the blog post expounded.
Privacy advocates think otherwise. According to them, it might be very difficult for people to notice a wink behind the Google Glass and therefore people might be photographed unknowingly.
"It is a remarkable progress of technology and the possibilities of innovation around it limitless. However, it comes with new issues that we need to understand, not least the worries over security and privacy.There needs to be discussion about how, and in what environments, gadgets like these can be used openly," said managing director Manoj Menon of the Frost & Sullivan consulting firm when interviewed by BBC.
Another question that arises is how does Google Glass differentiate between an intended wink, or an unintended wink, say, by a user suffering from blepharospasm.
Aside from the wink feature, the Google Glass update also came with new features such as ability to lock its screen, enhancements to the Hangouts Glassware, and the ability to directly upload videos to YouTube.
To date, a Google Glass user (dubbed Explorer) has been given a ticket by a cop in California while a restaurant in Seattle has shown a patron the door. Wonder what's up next.
