Speaking to the BBC, Google Executive Chairman said that Glass for consumers is not imminent and that the wearable device will require new social etiquette.
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt
During Google first-quarter earning call last week, CEO Larry Page rather cryptically addressed Google Glass' $1,500 price tag: "The price tag was set for developers for early test. We don't have news to announce there. I'm not sure I would call it a luxury price, but it's a pretty high price."
Schmidt also discussed concerns about how Google Glass and other body-wear devices impact social norms and privacy.
"The fact of the matter is we'll have to develop some new social etiquette. It's obviously not appropriate to wear these glasses in situations where recording is not correct, and indeed you have this problem already with phones," Schmidt said. "Companies like Google have a very important responsibility to keep your information safe. You have responsibility as well to understand what you are doing and how you are doing it and obey appropriately and also keep everything up-to-date."
Last month a bar in Seattle announced that it ban Google Glass. Following that story, a Google spokesperson said, "It is still very early days for Glass, and we expect that as with other new technologies, such as cell phones, behaviors and social norms will develop over time."
In other words, give the market time to sort it out, not regulators. Nonetheless, it's clear that Google Glass could be just as irritating as people talking loudly on their cell phones in public places, but far more complicated regarding issues such as invasion of privacy.
