Smart Glasses: Much More Than A Snooping Device

With apologies to none at all

Around the end of last year, I stumbled upon an ad for Meta Ray-Ban glasses. Basically, it’s a new media which besides being sunglasses and also prescription, can, using Bluetooth connect to your phone, enabling one to take calls, listen to music, even take photos and videos.

There are speakers embedded in the arms of the glasses, just above the ears, so that one can talk or listen to music. Those around hardly realise that you have a listening device on.

It’s a neat system wherein most of the commands are voice. So, it’s simple and uncomplicated.

And it also supports command in Hindi.

Initially, I used it as a toy. Almost like a show-off.

But as it grew on me, I realised that it is useful in more than one way.

Listen to music during my morning walk and take calls without even touching my phone.

Take some interesting pictures of nature impulsively, without having to whip out a phone.

And it also reads out SMS and Whatsapp messages.

Describing the emojis too.

While the device represents an exciting step toward integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life, it has also sparked significant controversy around privacy and surveillance.

It can click photos and videos without anyone being wiser. There is a small light in the front which blinks when photo or video is taken but hardly anyone can notice it.

I was with my bank branch manager and took a call with my glasses.

Intrigued, he asked me more about it and when I photographed him, he was horrified.

I have had such negative reactions from some more people who were not too happy with the indiscretion of the camera function.

The possibility that someone could unknowingly be filmed or recorded without their consent has led to concerns about how wearable technology may erode long-standing social norms around privacy.

It can be used for illegal and unethical purposes too.

Another aspect of the controversy relates to how the data captured by these glasses is stored and used.

Smart glasses are not simply cameras; they are connected devices integrated with artificial intelligence systems.

The images, videos and audio they collect may potentially be uploaded to cloud platforms, processed by algorithms, or even reviewed by human moderators to improve AI systems.

Critics argue that individuals who appear in such recordings may never have consented to their images being captured or used in the training of artificial intelligence models.

Indeed, some reports have come out that the data from the glasses is being stored in Kenya and locals who work as moderators are aghast at what all is being recorded and saved.

The debate around smart glasses is also tied to larger societal fears about surveillance. As technology becomes smaller and more integrated into everyday objects, the boundaries between observation and privacy become blurred.

Some experts worry that devices like smart glasses could normalize constant recording of everyday life. When wearable cameras become widespread, people might begin to feel that they are always being watched, even in casual public settings.

Critics often describe this as the gradual normalization of everyday surveillance, where the ability to record and analyse human behaviour becomes embedded in ordinary consumer products.

These concerns have made smart glasses one of the most debated categories of wearable technology in recent years.

At the same time, when viewed from another perspective, particularly if certain features like the camera are removed or restricted, the underlying technology could serve as a highly valuable assistive tool for elderly individuals who struggle with declining eyesight, hearing difficulties, and the challenges of navigating daily life independently.

So, let’s look at smart glasses, in a different and more positive sense.

As people age, many experience declining vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. These changes can make everyday tasks such as reading labels, recognizing objects, navigating unfamiliar spaces, or participating in conversations increasingly difficult.

Smart glasses have the potential to address many of these challenges by providing hands-free digital assistance directly within a person’s field of view and hearing.

And that’s why I find these glasses very useful.

My regular readers would know, that I am hearing-disabled.

And even with hearing aids, many a times I find it difficult to take calls or listen to a podcast clearly.

I use Bluetooth wireless headphones for better hearing of calls or podcasts.

This is effective, but I have to be careful that my hearing aids are not pressurised, specially if I have to use the headphones over a long period.

The glasses help me by eliminating the use of headphones.

One device less to carry. And more seamless use.

And of course, more fashionable too.

If the camera is removed, the Meta Ray Ban glasses transform from a potentially intrusive device into a powerful accessibility tool.

Without the camera, the glasses retain their core strengths such as high-quality audio, voice assistant integration, lightweight, stylish design, and hands-free operation.

This shift opens the door to meaningful applications for older adults, especially those with visual or hearing impairments.

The global population is ageing, and assistive technologies are becoming essential for maintaining independence, dignity, and quality of life.

The smart glasses, if made camera-free can offer several advantages.

Benefits include amplified phone calls and voice responses, clearer audio for reminders, alerts, and navigation.

It can also be about reduced stigma compared to traditional hearing aids.

And when I asked an AI programme to predict how smart glasses could help improve the quality of life for senior citizens, the response was interesting.

Some of it, I am reproducing below.

Even without a camera, the glasses can support visually impaired seniors through audio-based features such as voice-guided navigation for walking or commuting, audio descriptions of messages, notifications, and schedules, and hands-free calling to family or caregivers. These features reduce reliance on small screens, which can be difficult for older adults to read.

As people age, managing daily tasks can become challenging. The glasses can act as a subtle, always available assistant with useful functions including spoken reminders for medication, appointments, or tasks, voice-controlled note taking, and quick access to information without needing to handle a phone.

This can help seniors maintain independence and reduce caregiver burden.

I particularly agree with the caregiver part, especially in a society like India where caregiver is a seldom used profession and mostly the responsibility of the elderly falls on close family members.

Close family members take care of the elderly more due to the social context.

They have a duty to fulfil.

But with more nuclear families double income households, caring for the elder can become a chore which can lead to friction.

If technology through smart glasses can help and reduce the burden for the family members, then it’s a win win situation for all.

Consider the following too.

Loneliness is a major issue among older adults. The glasses make communication frictionless by enabling effortless phone calls, listening to audiobooks or music, and staying connected without navigating complex interfaces.

Hands-free communication is also valuable in emergencies. With voice commands, seniors can call family members instantly or contact emergency services, and share their location if needed. This reduces the risk associated with fumbling for a phone during a crisis.

Such innovations initially designed for entertainment, fashion or social media can find their most meaningful applications in accessibility and healthcare.

I have read many articles complaining that very few products are designed to target target the senior citizen generation.

Smart glasses could be a good bet to break that barrier.

The future of smart glasses may depend not only on technological innovation but also on thoughtful design choices, social milieu and ethical considerations.

By prioritising accessibility, privacy, and user wellbeing, companies and policymakers could transform a controversial piece of consumer electronics into a meaningful technological aid for senior citizens.

If this balance is achieved, smart glasses could shift from being viewed as a symbol of surveillance to becoming a valuable tool that enhances independence, dignity, and quality of life for the elderly.

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