Placing a high-definition camera on glasses is "really irresponsible", according to a competitor to Meta.
Even Realities, a Shenzhen-based technology brand that specialises in wearables and glasses, made the comment following the launch of its Even G2 spectacles, which arrive without a built-in camera. If you're not familiar with this category, smart glasses can allow Artificial Intelligence (AI) to answer questions about the world around you, capture photographs and video from a first-person perspective, take calls, and listen to music without earbuds.
Facebook parent company Meta dominants this category, thanks to its collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakleys. However, the Californian company has found itself in hot water in recent weeks after a bombshell report claimed its smart glasses recorded wearers undressing and using the toilet. High-resolution video filmed by the Meta-designed glasses is purportedly being reviewed by contractors at a Kenya-based company called Sama — a company responsible for training data that powers your computer vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
Will Wang, Even Realities' CEO, has said the rush to stick cameras on smart glasses is "really irresponsible" because the technology, policies, and infrastructure simply aren't ready yet.
Even G2 smart glasses were launched late last year, and they don't feature a built-in camera
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Mr Wang told Android Police, "Unfortunately, right now big tech seems to be pushing towards it. What's really worrying is Meta is pushing [cameras] hard, their sales are growing, and they are successfully getting Google and Apple to panic."
Multiple technology brands are looking into smart glasses, with Samsung executives teasing that its first pair will be available in the coming months. Nicknamed Galaxy Glasses by the rumour-mill, Samsung Executive Vice President of Mobile, Jay Kim told CNBC that a built-in camera at "your eye level" will be one of the main features. Another company Rokid has launched specs with a camera to film from a first-person perspective.
This functionality — which lets you take photographs and video from a first-person perspective with a hands-free voice command — has made the product category a hit with social media content creators and parents.
However, Mr Wang believes that if the biggest brands all push in the same direction, they'll end up controlling the conversation entirely and cameras will become the standard. He said: "If it was just Meta, that’s fine.
"When it’s all these big tech companies together, then they essentially own the mindset. They own the voices. It means people might have to go into a world [where smartglasses with cameras are becoming more common] that they don’t want to accept, and that’s why we wanted to speak up."
There have also been cases of witnesses in court using these face-worn gadgets to receive answers during testimony, essentially cheating the justice system. Most recently, a witness was accused of receiving instructions through smart glasses at The Royal Courts of Justice in London.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Even Realities has pivoted with a different approach to its glasses. Instead of offering a camera on its glasses, the company has just launched Even Hub, an open app store for its recently launched G2 smart glasses. This means you can pick and choose what software runs on your face.
It's similar to having an app store on your phone – you browse, you download what you fancy, and you skip what you don't need. The platform features 50 apps built by independent developers, covering everything from Spotify controls to chess games.
Even Hub draws on a network of more than 2,000 independent developers who can build software uniquely for the company
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For instance, you can get SubwayLens for real-time New York transit information if you're visiting. There's also Tesla integration, which is designed to help you check your car's battery and cabin temperature. There's even an app called ER Market, made for delivering live stock prices right in your field of vision.
Even Hub draws on a network of more than 2,000 independent developers who can build software uniquely for the company. Even Realities has also focused on making specs that actually look like normal glasses, with slim magnesium frames and adjustable nosepads that sit comfortably on your face.
Mr Wang believes the display is what truly matters. The G2 features a waveguide screen that shows you information right in your line of sight — notifications pop up, translations appear as subtitles during conversations, and AI can feed you helpful cues during meetings.