The one-day Google Glass sale Tuesday went well, according to Google, as all available spots in its Google Explorer program were snatched up.
But that's as much as Google is willing to share following the event that let the curious, the techies and those 'must have latest tech' types get their own customized Glass specs for the mere price of $1,500.
One industry analyst, however, believes it's not important how many units of Glass were sold but how the new Explorers will use Glass and the fact more Glass out in the world will drive interest and, hopefully, help downplay some negative publicity regarding the wearable computing device.
"Testing or even just seeing a product in person goes a long way in showing consumers how it can fit into their lives, especially one like Glass that has many uses, but no apparent killer app. Without that touch point, key pre-purchase metrics like awareness and familiarity remain low," writes Ben Arnold, executive director and industry analyst with the NPD Group, in a company blog.
The news comes as Google Glass recently suffered yet another marketing blow in which a Glass user was assaulted. It's the latest in several incidents where Glass wearers have met with violent behavior by others. The wearable Internet device, which is being used in pilots from emergency rooms to everyday activities, has been criticized for potentially invading personal privacy and for security concerns.
"Making Glass available to non-Explorers, if only for one day, can help to combat a negative sentiment towards the product that seems to have gotten louder in recent months," writes Arnold.
A recent NPD Group Wearable Technology Study reports 46 percent of early adopters are knowledgeable about smartglasses, such as Google Glass, but just 30 percent of consumers are familiar with such technology.
Arnold views the one-day sale event as a "controlled experiment" allowing Google to gain deeper insight on Glass use and consumer need for such wearable tech.
"With more consumers owning the device, chance encounters, word of mouth education, and impromptu demos of Glass should be more widespread. Those curious can learn how it works from actual owners, and experience it for themselves," he states in the blog.
Arnold expects Google to be doing lots of research on its new group of Explorers and how society is receiving the technology as it becomes more familiar with the product.
"Will new concerns beyond privacy arise? Will we see more entities address, specifically, how wearables should be used in public? As the next evolutionary step in consumer technology, a better understanding of how society views Glass will be insightful for the entire industry," says Arnold.
