14 DAY TRIAL // The Google Glass Explorer program has just opened up in the United States and there are already special bills being set up to address the dangers that come with driving while wearing Google’s gadget.
Lawmakers in Illinois are apparently thinking of ways to combat the next generation of distracted drivers.
While texting and talking on cell phones is already a problem, lawmakers fear that Google Glass wearers will soon join the list of drivers that cause accidents.
Google has said several times thus far that the $1,500 (€1,100) device is perfectly ok to wear while driving, explaining that it assists with navigation, monitors speed and alerts users when they’re too tired to drive.
Despite all the benefits that Google keeps attributing to Glass and testimonies in this direction from Explorers, legislators seem to be adamant about their idea. The bill would ban the use of Google Glass while on the road, as the technology is considered to be potentially disruptive with deadly consequences.
Google is not one to remain indifferent since this law has the potential to seriously affect its Glass sales in Illinois. The company’s representatives have reportedly already visited the Illinois General Assembly and offered demos of Glass, trying to help people understand what the device is all about and make lawmakers see its benefits.
The company has also reportedly offered to work with lawmakers on the topic. Google’s lobbyists have been sent to Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri and Delaware to talk to politicians about Glass. At least eight states are apparently considering restricting Glass while driving. The number is certainly already higher than Google would like since it’s enough to spark similar changes in the entire country.
While it can very well be true that Google Glass is seriously distracting, the issue with these proposed bills is the fact that the politicians calling for the restrictions have likely never even tried on the device.
“We find that when people have first-hand experience using Glass over several days, many feel less, not more distracted by technology,” Google recently said.
Making decisions without having a first-hand experience, especially when it affects thousands of people is not ideal under any circumstances and lawmakers seem to fall into this trap.
Glass was announced a couple of years back and it was finally released for the world last year through the Explorer program. The program was invitation only until earlier this month when Google decided to open its doors to all Americans, even though it’s still the beta version of the device.
The company promised that it would release the final version of Glass to the world sometime this year, although no exact timeline was provided. It is expected for more information to be shared on the topic next month, during the Google I/O conference, a place where the company often informs the world of its projects.