They were labelled 'pervert glasses'. Will a camera-free version transform their image?

They were labelled 'pervert glasses'. Will a camera-free version transform their image? Various companies are addressing privacy concerns in different ways without eliminating the camera. HTC, the Taiwanese firm, recently launched its Vive Eagle glasses, which cost less than a fourth of Snap's comparable product. Thomas Dexmier, vice president at HTC Vive, explained that if someone near a wearer says "stop filming" or "stop recording", and the phrase is captured by one of the device’s four microphones, the camera automatically deactivates. He added that all recordings made by the glasses are encrypted, and even HTC cannot access them—although this also prevents the company from flagging harmful content. "We admit that there are some challenges, possibly becoming a real problem, particularly for women," he said. Dexmier noted that HTC Vive is working to make misuse of the technology as difficult as possible, but said it is "too early to comment" on whether the company will consider a camera‑free version. Ultimately, industry analyst Wood believes that camera‑enabled glasses are "not going away". He compared the current situation to the early 2000s, when critics argued that mobile phone manufacturers should not install cameras because of similar privacy worries. "There's an inevitability there," he said. "We will have to find a societal norm, a model for the usage of these products," he concluded. Top image credit: Getty.