14 DAY TRIAL // Google Glass has been getting a lot of attention, which Google is loving, but the device isn't even out yet. Few people can use it already, though the first few buyers are soon getting their devices.
Still, the controversial device is already raising a lot of concerns. It's already been banned in one Seattle bar, the move was great for publicity.
Yet, there are talks of banning it while driving in West Virginia. The idea is that Glass would distract drivers so its use needs to be regulated.
Granted, the law doesn't exactly target Glass, it's aimed at any wearable computer with a head-mounted display.
Governments have a tendency to react to technology badly, mostly because they don't understand it. Though when they do react, it's usually too late.
But this isn't exactly the case here. Gary G. Howell, the lawmaker who proposed the bill in West Virginia is well aware of what Google Glass is and is actually excited about the technology.
"I actually like the idea of the product and I believe it is the future, but last legislature we worked long and hard on a no-texting-and-driving law. It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new things," Howell explained to Cnet.
"They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled drivers. We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most involving our youngest drivers. I see the Google Glass as an extension," he added.
Any distraction while driving is a bad thing. But it's unclear whether Google Glass would be a distraction. After all, that's a big reason behind the creation of the device, to get people to pay less attention to their phones.
While Glass has a display, most of the interaction is done via voice commands. You can dictate an email or a text message and have your incoming messages read out loud by Glass. You actually spend little time looking at the display. Soon, Google will be driving the car for you, anyway.