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Google Glass Owners Share Their Favorite Memories

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On June 29th, 2013 – I became one of the first people to get the pleasure of owning Google Glass. For me, and countless others, Google Glass was more than a gadget but a springboard into several new and unique experiences. Thanks to Google Glass, I have had the pleasure of meeting several amazing people and travel around the country to meet with like-minded users. Many media outlets and journalists criticized Google Glass owners with unfounded claims of potential privacy violations but very few of them have actually met with Google Glass Owners to listen to their side of the story. I reached out to several Google Glass owners (past and present) to ask for them to share their favorite memories. I asked each of them the same batch of questions. Here are their responses –

I would like to extend a huge thanks to all who have participated in my survey. Please do me a favor and follow some of these fine folks on Social Media. I have personally had the pleasure of meeting many of them (and in some cases was there in person in their favorite memory).

Keith I Myers

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Glass has allowed me to meet with several other like-minded individuals and experience some of the most exciting adventures of my life. I have traveled to several places with Glass and had a blast. I have done everything from visiting countless theme parks to taking an air-boat ride in New Orleans. I would not trade these experiences for anything however to date, my favorite memory was holding my nephew for the first time while wearing Google Glass.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Aside from the fact that Google abandoned the original group of Glass Explorers, I really wish that Glass held up better in the hot and humid Florida climate. Glass should be waterproof and be able to hold up to perspiration and a bit of light rain without failing or the foil being ruined. I have had 5 total replacements in the first 2 years of owning Glass.

Favorite Photo

Steph Lake

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Every time I shared Glass with someone new it was so fun to see their face light up and the excitement of using something they’d never seen and maybe never heard of. I used to take them to training classes at my call center and share the experience with large groups all at once.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

I wish mine still worked, I wish they could offer more support still, I wish they would come out with a newer consumer version that is less expensive. I wish they would have fixed the foil issues, I wish they would sell parts off the thousands of failed units they have at their disposal.

Joseph M. Cappellino

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – Glass Pioneer Program (2013 Google I/O)

Do you still own your Google Glass – No

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

My favorite memory of Glass was taking it through the U.S. National Whitewater Center in North Carolina. I got some stellar first-person video (attached) of going down the Type 3-Type 5 rapids. We hit Big Drop so hard that it knocked my cousin’s sunglasses off.

Unfortunately, this was only about a month into owning Glass, and the water did not sit well with the electronics. I waited a full 3 days before I even dared to plug it in. Thankfully, it powered up without issue, but suffered the dreaded “foil issue”. Google replaced it free of charge!

So, long story, short: I had a great time, got great footage, and have an awesome story to share.

All that being said, I was very fortunate that in all my time wearing it, I only had one bad experience (I was asked to leave from a bar). Everywhere else I went, I met so many people intrigued by Glass. At the time, my friends and I had younger kids. When we went to amusement parks (such as Sesame Place), the conversations usually went as such: “That’s such a cute bab… OMG is that Google Glass?!?!?”

Ultimately, I sold it as I didn’t always need a POV camera (I sit at a computer all day), and AndroidWear (now WearOS) sufficed my notification needs.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Comfort. While having to wear prescription lenses, Glass was not the most comfortable frame. It was heavy. And even heavier with the additional prescription frames/lenses from Rochester Optical (I should have gotten the official frames, but had already gotten the ones from Rochester Optical).

I tried wearing contacts, by my eyes were too dry to wear them continuously.

Favorite Photos and Videos

Jeff Bond

Personal Website

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

1,000 Home Inspections #throughglass

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Weather Resistant

Favorite Photos

Robert B Hamilton

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Day 1 unboxing

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

It needs a blinking red “you are being recorded” light and a better battery. Ok that’s 2. So sue me.

And I want to change my wished-for feature to X-Ray vision

Favorite Photos

Although Robert did not upload any photos, he does have a gallery on Google Plus capturing people’s first reaction to Google Glass that is definitely worth checking out called Glass Reactions.

John Giles

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – Initial Public Sale

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

My favorite memory was wearing them to my Highschool 20-year Reunion and looking like a total dork. The best use case for Google Glass for me was always mountain biking. I could be flying down a mountain and wink to take pics or command Glass to take video. The video would be decent quality and showed people exactly what I was seeing as I sped down the mountain.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Google Glass was always very slow. I wish the processor was much faster. I also wish there was better integration with iPhones as it was primarily designed to work with Android phones.

Linda Jovic

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

How to narrow it down? The entire experience was extraordinary. If it didn’t crash I would still be using it every day. I’m at a loss without it.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

That I could still upgrade, purchase and use it!!!

Jason Newman

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

While all the meet-ups at the NYC HQ were a blast, I honestly found that when I was stuck in my wheelchair, or on crutches I was able to actually take pictures and use my phone’s messaging features a lot more than if I didn’t have Glass. It wasn’t until I went to a wedding on crutches and was still able to get good photos of the event that it really hit me just how useful Glass could be for some many people that need that sort of limited-mobility accessory.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The bone-conducting speaker never quite worked for me, no matter the placement. I think if they nailed the audio output of the device (and perhaps fixed those pesky nose-pad arms that bend every which way) the device would have been in my tech-rotation for longer.

Isaac Winters

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Using it to take pics while playing with my kid on the playground. It was great for taking photos while pushing him on a swing or going down a slide. Some of the best, most natural photos I have are from my time using Glass.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The battery life was pretty terrible, but that wasn’t unexpected.

Chris Vulkin

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Being invited to speak at the NY basecamp on Glass and Healthcare was the highlight of my Glass experience, there was a group of us who had started using Glass in healthcare early on and we shared our experiences. The group was made up of a mix of various providers and technologist that were using Glass for different use cases, we all shared our stories and answered audience questions. Lots of strong community feels early on, some of those present included Augmedix and Ned Sahin who came to found Brain Power later on in 2014. Lots of early innovation!

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Access cutoff except for few select groups in 2015-present

Favorite Photos

Ryan Taylor

Social Media

How did you get Glass? –#IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Overall positive reactions. I never encountered hostility.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Lower the prism just a bit.

Corey Miecielica

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Streaming live video to my wife from big wheel race!

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Better camera

Will Lassalle

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

My favorite memory involving glass is all the memories I made travelling the world with them. I have great, great pictures and videos from a first person perspective from my trip with my kids to Disney World including some great videos i was able to take hands free. I met and spoke with people in Australia around Glass. It was a tremendous ice breaker for someone who is/was a natural introvert.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

That Google would have supported it more. I still think it could be relevant in some form and was ahead of its time.

Favorite Photo

Martin Ballard

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass –No

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Meeting other Glass Explorers at the Big Android BBQ

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Battery life and would like it to have a better processor.

Jeanne Sutton

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

We attended several Glass Meetups @ Disney. The Osborn lights made a great backdrop for Glass pictures as well as the perfect place to demonstrate Glass to others. The reactions to “Ok Glass, take a picture” was so fun to see on all ages. I miss those days.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

To fit any pair of RX glasses.

Favorite Photo

Allen Firstenberg

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – Glass Pioneer Program (2013 Google I/O)

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I’m surprised you didn’t ask if we still *wear* our Glass. I do. I have tons of memories of people asking me about it – from my trip to I/O in 2013 where the flight attendant asked me what I was wearing, what it did, and where they could get one, to the people who asked me just yesterday what it was like to use. I still get questions, five years later, but I remember kids who sent their parents over to ask, and were thrilled when I let them try it on. I’ve been asked about it by my dry cleaners, by tech executives, sports fans, and other parents on the playground.

Most of my memories of Glass were how it changed things for me and the people I saw using it. How I could use my voice to take notes – while collaborating with Jason Salas on our book, I would frequently have inspirations while driving, and it was easy (and safe!) for me to dash off a quick note to him with my idea. How people could use software I wrote, such as Vodo, to take pictures and notes that were saved directly in Google Drive.

I remember how many people immediately understood the power of Glass. The “there when you need it, out of the way when you don’t” nature of the interaction. Even if they first thought it was an AR device… or they could watch YouTube on it… they quickly grasped why this was something different and more powerful.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Aside from wishing the next consumer edition was available, with the Google Assistant built-in and on demand, I wish that it had launched at a reasonable price. $1500 was a steep price for a consumer device, no matter how transformative.

Favorite Photo

Kata Rina

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

My 1st Glass MeetUp there was only one other person there with Glass and I felt very special.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

I hated when they took hangouts of glass

Jesus Suarez

Social Media

How did you get Glass? –# IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I have countless adventures with Google glass over 5 years now and still I keep wearing it ! I have documented par of my life with family and friend also work of course .

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

the foil in the prism always comes apart soon or later also I miss the video conference

Don Schwartz

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

First is the always positive response from younger folks when I told them I’m wearing Glass. The two concession girls at the NH Fisher Cats are the best reaction I caught.

If I had Glass… I’d let my snow park manager son ride down Okemo with them. I did it and have a video riding up on the back of a snowmobile and Dan riding the super pipe throughglass. https://youtu.be/bX_aJLYak0I

Hosting many meetups and Glass hacks brought together such an incredible group of folks, many whom I call friend after all these years. The Glass Challenge for Healthcare that brought in over 200 physicians and professionals was the height for me. Being invited and giving the opening keynote to the Transhumanism conference at Juniata college was a blast. I had them from the moment I winked and their picture appeared on the screen behind me.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

I wish it was ruggedized. Battery I could live with but humidity killed it

Favorite Photo

Debra Deppeler

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I was walking to work one morning on Campus and wearing my GLASS to take photos and reply to texts. I walked past a group lead by a woman with about 8 elementary aged kids.

One of the kids noticed GLASS and just as I got passed them, she said, “Google GLASS”.

At first, I just smiled to myself and kept walking. Then, I decided to turn around and go back to the group to show them my GLASS.

I introduced myself and asked who it was that had noticed my GLASS. The girl that noticed GLASS was so happy to see them up close. I let her wear them while I screencasted what she was seeing and doing for the other kids. All the kids liked the demo. She took a video and photo and googled something.

The group leader thanked me for stopping because she was showing the kids our Campus and hoping to get them interested in studying science. I encouraged them to try Computer Science because that is what I teach.

My other favorite memory is the GLASS video I took while riding on Everest Expedition at Disney World and a different time for the ALS water bucket challenge.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

1) Waterproof (sweat and rain cause problems)

2) A Longer lasting and cooler battery

3) Add a Rear View camera (To see what is behind me while biking)

Eddie Daniels

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I had a chance to use glass to capture so many great memories that I would not have today and meet so many great people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. The best memory, of course, is having my wedding reception captured from my point of view so I can relive that amazing moment over and over!

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Other people’s understanding and acceptance of the technology. It was an amazing device that never got to reach it’s full potential based on a lot of FUD.

Favorite Photo

Court Mejias

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – Glass Pioneer Program (2013 Google I/O)

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Hands free photos during my vacation in California

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Longer battery life and continuation of support

Ihar Rubanau

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

connecting glass to EEG headset abs controlling it without hand

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

replaceble main hardware block (after year the hardware become so slow that it was not possible to use it anymore, only for demo sometimes)

Brandon Rush

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

Really, it was anytime I got to teach someone on Google Glass, or let them try it out. They always had amazed looks on their faces when viewing through it.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The foil issue! I also wish it was generally released to end-users so it was more common to see people with them. I feel this could have really helped out the software engineering side to normal end-users.

Philemon Vanderbeck

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I’ve consistently taken it with me whenever we’ve gone on vacations. I used it extensively on my trip to Greece and Italy for my 50th birthday.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The battery. Oh, and give it the ability to recognize people via their faces.

Mark Stout

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

My wife shot video as we filed through crowded historical sites in Jerusalem on a Good Friday.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

Restore hangout video conferencing capability now only available through expensive third parties who market to medical education.

Joseph Stirt (bookofjoe)

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – Glass Pioneer Program (2013 Google I/O)

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

First-ever recording of competitive mile race (2013) video: https://youtu.be/gAkfPhlvSn8

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

A previous Glass software update included the ability to upload video directly to YouTube; it’s since been removed. I loved that feature and wish Google would reinstall it.

Alan S Unis

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

I love when I can take pictures while driving, during a hike (or any outing) or a celebratory event without stopping to take a picture. Other hands-free tasks are also appreciated.

Google Glass does everything it was designed to do:

  • It takes pictures and videos.
  • It uses voice commands to make and receive phone calls send text messages and search Google.
  • It obtains directions by voice command and illustrates them in a convenient heads up display, allowing you to find your way without distraction from the road while you are driving.
  • It uses voice recognition to transcribe reminders, lists and other miscellaneous thoughts.

Was it a commercial failure?

By some measures and metrics. But do we like it only because we paid so much to try it? I say, unequivocally, NO!

I thought about starting a G+ page called “Pepys (pronounced ‘peeps’) through Glass” after Samuel Pepys, “an administrator of the navy of England and Member of Parliament who is most famous for the diary that he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man” during the latter half of the 17th century (Wikipedia). This diary provides valuable historical observations made by Pepys but most importantly he provided observation, commentary and personal insight into his daily private and public life. Fortunately for me, (and probably for you), the Glass Explorer page already existed and I certainly did not have the time, energy or consistent attention span to do as good a job.

I believe all of us Explorers have been given a tool, Glass, to document our lives, albeit more photographically than literally. We have fulfilled that task and more! We have in Glass a relatively unobtrusive assistant to record aspects of our mundane lives that are important (for us) to remember, to complete routine tasks relatively effortlessly and, most importatly, to share our efforts with others who also made such a substantial financial commitment to this technology. We are simply Explorers!

The only failure with Glass is that this tool was probably out of reach for many. The world was not ready for the $1,000 smart phone in 2013, let alone a $1,500 smart phone extender.

It is ironic to me that Pepys stopped writing his diary because of his failing eyesight. He wouldn’t dictate it because of his concern over loss of privacy. Even our generation shares this concern but not with nearly the degree of propriety. However, if Pepys had Glass, how much more would we know about this era!

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

It is slow and unreliable in its connectivity and its performance.

Taylor R Hunt

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

A crowd of people in a whole foods asking about it in wonder and then posing for a photo.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

I wish it had been fast enough and had enough connectivity to work.

Adam Outler

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

They are a part of my day-to-day life. Asking me this is like asking me what my favorite moment of the last 4 years was.

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The bone conduction speaker is too weak to use for Bluetooth phone calls. I would want a better speaker.

Jen Vargas

Social Media

How did you get Glass? – #IfIHadGlass/Glass Explorers

Do you still own your Google Glass – Yes

What Is Your Favorite Memory Involving Google Glass –

One of my favorite memories and people I encountered while wearing Google Glass was with Spider, a Cosplayer, at MegaCon Orlando. I was blown away at his mammoth, life-sized Gears of War cosplay, and he was geeking out over my pair of Google Glass! I later learned that Spider, an Army Veteran, constructs cosplay costumes as a form of physical therapy. Being wheelchair bound, he builds his massive costumes from scratch! He really, REALLY wanted Glass but wasn’t picked for #IfIHadGlass. I promised him, with my next round of Glass invites, I would send him an invite – and I did! I don’t know if he ever took the plunge and got his own pair? From such a random meeting in a sea of people came a great story; Geeks and Glass converge!

I also had the great opportunity to visit NASA Kennedy several times and tour the facilities #throughglass because… SPACE! I’ve interviewed both Orange County Florida Mayor Jacobs (who mentioned Glass in her State of the County meeting) and City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who invited me to ride along with him as he visited residents during National Night Out. He even played me some Kenny Rogers! I also ‘blinded’ Thomas Dolby ‘with science’ at the Orlando Film Festival one year, giving him his first Google Glass demo. I was a finalist at the Shorty Awards (#KeepGoodGoing category), our 48 Hour Film Project group won the Orlando leg of the contest with a short film based around Glass called ‘TechSquad,’ which later was listed as IMDb’s first film made with/for Google Glass.

Sharing Orlando’s first ever Invictus Games #throughglass was also an honor. Prince Harry, Vice President Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden were among those present to honor our wounded vets from around the Globe. I had the deep honor of interviewing Ken Fisher, President of Fisher House.

My pitch for even getting Glass was simple; I wanted to use my Glass for Good. I’d share all the cool non-profits and charitable events I’d attend #throughglass then write about it as a thank you to the 38 people who gave me personal donations to help me secure this revolutionary device. I’m as grateful to all of them now as I was in 2013. I hope I get to participate in something as special again some day 🙂

What was one thing you wish you could change about Google Glass?

The photo/video resolution is a given, so I’ll say the ability to attach/mount Glass (the device) on corrective glasses as well as sunglasses. A universal fit for all, and on BOTH sides of the head.