In New York, Gary Shteyngart becomes a walking local attraction as he’s one of the selected few to receive the technologically advanced Google Glass. Many people are fascinated and awed by him having such a futuristic like device. The Google Glass immediately gives him some form of social capital because he has access to something most people don’t. The Google glass allows him to subscribe to different news outlets. Shteyngart gets notifications from his preferred content such as tweets or restaurant reviews. He gets previews of online information through a small window that only he can see through the google glass. The most popular feature Shteyngart was utilizing was the capturing mode of taking pictures or videos by a simple verbal command. He was able to capture what he liked through his glasses where the images or videos will be backed up on his laptop. He was also able to share what he was viewing with others through a video call, like live streaming. The downfall of Google glass is consent, since Shteyngart was wearing the google glass at all times some locations didn’t allow him to record, such as museums. Even though it’s fun to record everything it’s also quite invasive of those around you. For example, Shteyngart was eavesdropping on others’ conversations and using the capturing mode to see who was saying what. Also, physically, the Google glass was taking a toll on his body because he was looking at a screen so often which is bad for the eyes.

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            I think the Google glass is very similar to how people use the phone already. It’s just reinvented to be attached to your body and a bit more exclusive to your eyes. It has the same functions as a phone in terms of documenting, social media use, communicating, and searching. It’s not far off to how people usually engage with the online, me included. I appreciate you can use the Google glass to capture or live stream important events such as weddings, birthdays, and holidays for memories sake; I think that’s very useful. That function is very similar to snapchatting or Instagram-ing your daily life which is already socially acceptable. I would say I would share similar activities to Shteyngart in terms of using the Google glass to capture daily life from your own point of view. But I honestly don’t think it’s necessary to have it in glasses form. It maybe my paranoia or constant awareness but I prefer the obvious motion and social cue of taking out my phone. I’m not too sure how I feel about the google glass being very inconspicuous in terms of not knowing when the user is “on” or “off”. Not everyone has good intentions, I think it’s both invasive and secretive to have the google glass on and those around you not being aware of your activity. It would definitely introduce new challenges for our society to adapt to. I honestly think people would abuse the Google Glass in terms of recording because it’s so accessible and easy with just a command or tap. For others around the Google glass user, they would never know if the user is capturing something without their consent. Whereas with a phone you know when someone is aiming. Also, the physical toll it would take on your body to be that close to a screen all the time is quite alarming. I’m not too sure where I stand with this technology if it becomes popular in the future.