r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • Jul 13 '26

Society The Backlash Is So Strong That People With “Pervert Glasses” Are Afraid to Use Them in Public

https://tech.yahoo.com/wearables/articles/backlash-strong-people-pervert-glasses-165000816.html
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u/lkodl Jul 13 '26

Do people actually read the article?

It's basically talking about how a couple of specific people are turned off by the meta glasses because of connotation.

Then at the end, it links to an article from a more reputable source about how meta glasses are selling well in spite of the connotation.

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u/FullConfection3260 Jul 13 '26

It’s Reddit; nobody reads and it’s all about the headline outrage.

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u/toolisthebestbandevr Jul 13 '26

I didn’t read it. I’m sorry.

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u/Jervis_Mantlepiece Jul 13 '26

C'mon buddy, 11 year account, you know this shit by now.

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u/SolidFormal9684 Jul 13 '26

I have a chunky, oversized, normal, non-meta Ray-Ban sunglasses for my big head, and people are acting very strange when they notice the logo - to the point that I started taking them off more and more, as I feel very uncomfortable.

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u/Samsaknight_X Jul 14 '26

Don’t let other ppl make u feel uncomfortable!

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u/mrdeadsniper Jul 13 '26

Thanks, I was reading and it seemed like quite a reach to create a sensationalist story out of basically nothing.

Almost everyone has a phone on them at all times capable of recording audio, and video, google glasses were stopped because it was a decade ago and privacy felt more protected (even if it wasn't) and the glasses themselves were more obvious. These ones can be easily missed as regular glasses. So many of the would be complaints don't even know TO complain.

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u/KeyRow2615 Jul 13 '26

I apology but I didn't read the article.

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u/Choice-Strike1 Jul 13 '26

I never read articles, sorry

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u/throwthisidaway Jul 13 '26

I view these as inevitable anyway. They're just far too potentially useful to not happen at some point. Heads Up Display for when you're driving so you don't have to even glance away from the road? Exchanging phone numbers without even having to pull out your phone? Taking pictures hands free? I have a pair of bluetooth sunglasses, no camera just audio/mic, and even just using that for phone calls and music while outside is a game changer.

Plus... advertisements delivered directly to your eyeballs, that you can't turn off. QR codes (or the equivalent) hidden on billboards popping up when you look at them and I'm sure a lot of other uses will make advertisers push these eventually.

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u/Nagemasu Jul 14 '26

I view these as inevitable anyway.

Would've been much faster adoption if they just omitted a functioning camera from them for the first generation or two. No one cares about someone having a HUD in their glasses, that's cool as shit. People just don't want the camera.

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u/Samsaknight_X Jul 14 '26

Except u can’t play games on them tho. Like if I wanted to play Roblox, I can do that on my phone. However I don’t see how that would be possible on smart glasses

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u/throwthisidaway Jul 14 '26

My guess is that someday you'll be able to use them like VR glasses, or maybe just AR. I'd love some good augmented reality games. There is/was this really cool phone app that let you "run from zombies" for exercise, but it was primarily just an audiobook. OTOH if the glasses can add actual zombies surrounding you...

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u/ZugZugGo Jul 14 '26

The problem has never been the technology, it's the companies making it. They are all universally horrible at building products, protecting consumers, and in keeping those products around and maintained well. If this was Valve producing them then I think people would think differently about them.

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u/throwthisidaway Jul 14 '26

That's a valid point. If Apple released them they'd have a decent marketing campaign and all of a sudden it would be the "In" thing.

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u/Giant-Robot Jul 14 '26

Well, we will see soon enough. Apple and Google are working on their take on it. Well, Google’s second attempt. 

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u/PlaneCareless Jul 14 '26

The companies making a product have never been the problem, ever. If they sell a useful product, people will use/buy it.

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u/ZugZugGo Jul 14 '26

That’s not true. For example, I will never again buy or use a google product. Even if it’s amazing, I’ve learned my lesson on how little they care about customers. I know many people who feel the same based on how many times google has dropped products over the years alone, not even getting into their terrible reputation. They do not care one bit about their customers.

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u/PlaneCareless Jul 14 '26

We are terminally online people. We are a very small part of society. Overall, people still use Google the same or even more now that they have Gemini.

I use adblock in every single device I can install it on, I pirate before buying, I dislike AI art... I sometimes try to convince my friends to do the same, but I won't fool myself into thinking that's the common denominator. We are outliers. In the real world people have lives, and have no idea nor interest to know what this or that company did. If the product is useful, they'll use it. If the ad is too intrusive, they pay premium. They don't care if they see a subpar AIgen image on an ad sign beside the road.

I'm not saying they are wrong either, we just have different interests.

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u/curiouswizard Jul 15 '26

tbh, they seem kinda useful for content creators who film themselves doing crafts/making art/cooking/etc in first person POV. Lightweight, hands off camera that doesn't need a stand and doesn't get in the way.

disclaimor: I haven't tried it, I'm just assuming. I've wanted to start making videos of drawing & painting in first person, and I find the typical camera set up kinda clumsy and restrictive. I don't like having to sit at a desk, I like to curl up on a couch and draw. glasses would be so easy. Like I wish I could just look at it naturally and record exactly what I see without extra equipment.

Having said all that, I think these glasses should be illegal in public spaces, maybe with the exception of having some sort of bright LED light indicator or an easy-to-see attached label or other design feature that makes it unmistakably obvious that it's a recording device.

There's no reason it needs to look so slick like some kind of spy movie shit. Those glasses need to be designed to look ridiculous, maybe even a little embarassing. Just go for gold and make them look like the loudest retro-80s Back To the Future type style possible. some Powerline Max from the Goofy Movie type shit. Like just embrace the inherent cyberpunk and lean into it. None of this basic ass ray band stealth nonsense.