Meta glasses. Just why??

[Ihateboris]

Just came across these. Wtf? Glasses secretly recording people?? Why is something like this even invented?

www.meta.com/gb/ai-glasses/meta-glasses/kylie-jenner/?srsltid=AfmBOork-FLuXM_Z68vOl7q1qmNd4r5DXYPnTMQDlkkShjHOg_n-6x9U

I guess my argument is that pretty much all technology can be used for both good and bad, and I don't like the idea that people might have to "prove" that they're disabled enough to access certain things that will help them and change their lives.

and using a telephoto lens then they would never know either

Perhaps there could be some sort of regulation to allow them to only be available to people on the basis of physical need?

They are literally life changing for visually impaired people.

I read that as ‘meat glasses’.

i think they are weird and creepy. they’re almost exactly the same frame size and brand as I used to have and very similar to DC’s. I’d not want be thought of as having them

Or maybe we shouldn’t ban the technology, but punish people who use it in the wrong way instead?

Yep, and for people with neurodivergence too. They’re also amazing for people who work alone and in public and need a way to protect themselves.

https://abilitymagazine.com/meta-ray-bans-blind-users-experience-with-smart-glasses/

Or maybe we shouldn’t ban the technology, but punish people who use it in the wrong way instead?

I see your logic, but would you be happy for it to be your daughter as one of the test cases?

But you aren’t stood next to me in the supermarket at the time. You can’t start a conversation pretending to know me.

Yes. Agree. But there are so many obstacles. For example, how do we stop people uploading photos/videos to social media if the tech companies won't co-operate? Which they won't at the moment.

Ironically I think they just announced that the reading text/narration feature will be limited to something like 3 hours a month (or a week? Can't be bothered to check) for anyone not paying considerable subscription fees for the additional service. So I don't think helping those with disabilities was at the top of the creators minds...
I would have thought a clearly visually impaired person wearing the glasses would have a much better reception than anyone else wearing them.

Edit: Sorry, it's a slightly different feature that's been paywalled. One that is used by hearing impaired rather than sight impaired people. But I still wouldn't want to rely on them to continue to provide free services.

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/blog/reviewing-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses

For god's sake how many women have been harassared, recorded and raped, with phones being used in someway. Anything that makes it easier, quicker and/or more hidden, means it will happen more.

I really don't care how many tech geeks know about it now/before. It will become a bigger problem in the future.

I have a teenage daughter and work in schools. This becoming mainstream concerns me a lot.

I come from the generation where porn mags where kept on the topshelf and no naughty stuff before 9 on tv. It's a different world now, because tech companies just launch things with no consideration for society. And the cool attitude is blasé.

so why does society not say we should stay in tech stone ages. id start with banning the internet without that there can be no sharing

They're actually a really useful, affordable tool for people with vision impairment. I mean, the way some men use the video function is creepy as fuck; but to be able to wear a reasonably light frame that's connected to your phone so that, when a text comes in, it tells you who it's from and reads it to you; to hold an envelope or a page in front of you and ask it to read the content etc., is pretty good. They're in no way perfect, but it's certainly much better than having to rely on relatives or strangers to read your mail.

But the answer still isn’t banning technology.

She could well be anyway - the technology is already out there - you can’t put it back in the box.

I could, though. Not immediately or in the same way, but I could take a photo of you while pretending to use my phone, google your image and find out whatever there is available online and use it.-

I came across these for the first time in the optician in my local Tescos. That's certainly making them much more easily available.

Ffs, all the posters saying “but it’s nothing new”. It may not be but that’s completely irrelevant. In conjunction with new technology and the development of this technology new trends have emerged. Such as men wearing these glasses to go on dates with women, film and relay live or after the event, and get a full on rundown from randoms on the net insulting and hurling online abuse at the easily identifiable woman - who was found via a regular OLD platform and who can easily be re-found.

Yes by all means use these under licence for progress such as helping visually impaired folk, sporting events, instead of body cams etc. But there’s a reason why they’re made to look like regular glasses and you only have to stop and think for two seconds - as long as it takes to say “tech bro” - and you’ll glimpse the enormous potential for harm for women and children.

For fucks’ sake!!

@AutumnLover1990

There are people offering services to remove the flashing light.

With the National Crime Agency’s two big announcements over the last week, why are we still shocked that there are men using every opportunity to violate people? Big tech needs to stop giving them the tools to do this.

A female work colleague has them. Im pretty sure you can listen to music/podcasts on them as well, im pretty sure she doesnt record people and she doesnt wear them every day, but im not fully sure what her main reason for getting them was

@Fizbosshoes

You should definitely ask her what possessed her.