Google Glass is able to help drivers with everything from the car-buying process to enhancing the driving experience. Helpful auto shopping resources, like Drivetime or Kelly Blue Book, suddenly become keyboard and mouse-free with Google Glass. The buying process is easier and faster with advanced mobile technology. Once you get inside your new ride, you can use Glass to communicate or find directions. But how serious of a danger is it to wear the glasses while driving, especially while getting directions?
Google Glass: Yay
Unlike holding and glancing at your smartphone, your eyes can stay where they belong while wearing Google Glass—on the road. Rather than taking your eyes off the road to check a route on your phone, driving directions appear above the field of vision on Google Glass. Verbal directions are also an option that’s (arguably) less dangerous than typing directions. As a result, Google Glass’s navigational system is a better and safer option than traditional and smartphone GPS systems.
Witchita Business Journal also points out wearing Google Glass while driving is a safer alternative because drivers won’t have to check text messages for directions while driving. People will no longer have to reach around inside their cars and take their hands off the wheel to use phones. By having a computer in front of their eyeballs, drivers can communicate and use apps with their eyes and hands on the road and wheel, respectively.
Google Glass: Nay
Google Glass might be too cool for its own good—at least, as far as driving is concerned. If a driver has all of the device’s apps running and countless notifications come through while on the road, he may be tempted to check those notifications. You could, however, combat this risk by turning off the Gmail and all social media apps, for example.
As for the future of Google Glass behind the wheel, only time will tell. The device’s wide range of capabilities bring issues to the table and identify gray areas related to cell phone legislation. For example, in Kansas, texting while driving is forbidden, but will Google Glass’s voice texting feature be legal? And what about the states where only hands-free cell phone calls may be placed while driving? How will these states handle Google Glass?