The launch of the Apple Vision Pro in Los Angeles, California, this February did not create the anticipated buzz. In the wake of its release, it seems that the tech industry’s persistent efforts to popularize smart glasses, allowing them to interface with the internet and augment reality, continue to face resistance. This is evident in the tepid response to Apple’s much-hyped product, despite history showing that underestimating Apple is unwise.
It has been a decade since Google Glass was widely derided upon its launch. Similarly, Facebook’s push into the metaverse, with significant investment and a company rebrand, attests to the determined efforts of Big Tech to integrate the internet with our physical world through wearable tech. Nevertheless, the reception remains lukewarm, suggesting that humans are not readily embracing the idea of internet-connected eyewear.
The skepticism toward smart glasses is not surprising, as illustrated by the experience of a writer who was disenchanted by the Sony Glasstron in the 1990s. Despite investing in a seemingly revolutionary gadget, the shortcomings led to disappointment and a swift return. The eagerness for perfect human-machine interfaces and the blurring of digital and physical spaces remains, but the realization of this vision has proven to be more challenging than anticipated.
The difficulties faced by smart glasses in gaining public acceptance raise questions about the future of wearable tech. While the fascination with integrating technology into our daily lives persists, the tension between innovation and the apprehension about technology’s impact on human interaction and privacy remains an obstacle. The battle for our faces, it seems, is an enduring one as tech companies strive to navigate the delicate balance between innovation and human acceptance.
