Well, how close did this all come to a reality?

Google Glass physically consists of a 5MP camera with a clear prism that is attached to a flexible metal frame.  Google is working to incorporate prescription lenses for those who need glasses. The product comes with built in WIFI and Bluetooth technology, but no gps chip. In addition, Google Glass comes with 16GB flash memory preinstalled.

Directly from the Google Glass “What It Does” page:

• Take pictures, video, and live stream hands free
• Turn by turn directions in front of you
• Speak to send a message
• Ask any question
• Get translations for different languages
• Get answers without asking

In fact, Google posted a video back in February demonstrating these features:

One of the most heavily debated aspects of the device surrounds the ability to discretely record video or use the device. Privacy is a big public concern as people are afraid of the capabilities and customization options to come. Moreover, Google Glass has not even fully launched yet and it is already being banned in public places such as casinos.

Currently, Google Glass is not available to everyone. If you are one of the lucky developer’s chosen by Google, you can purchase a pair for a whopping $1,500! The tech world is speculating a late 2013 or early 2014 widespread launch of Google Glass.

Small signs around the mall will notify shoppers that they are being tracked. If they do happen to see these signs, they will be informed that they can opt-out from being monitored by turning off their cell phones. But what happens when a shopper is not interested in being tracked and has to make a phone call? Or perhaps a shopper did not see the sign altogether. Should this be a situation when shoppers should be able to opt-in rather than opt-out?

Sharon Biggar is the CEO of Path Intelligence, the company responsible for Footpath Technology. Biggar assures shoppers that their movement has been tracked for years through other methods, such as security cameras and people counters. Is this supposed to be reassuring? Although the practice of tracking consumer trends is not new, the method of using cell phone signals for this purpose is.

No matter what your stance is on this issue, make sure you are fully aware of your options. To find out more about this issue, here is an article from CNN Money.

President Obama using a SCIF tent from a hotel room in Brazil.

Ever wish you had more privacy to make a personal phone call on the run? We’ve all been there.

Imagine what kind of privacy would be needed if you were talking to foreign dignitaries or military personnel about top secret military operations, like the recent one in Pakistan? For moments like that, President Obama, like presidents before him, relies on a special enclosure called a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities) tent. Made from a top secret material, this otherwise humble looking fabric prevents electronic transmissions from entering or exiting the area, and can be erected anywhere the president and his advisors need it.

The tent is surrounded by a ring of electronic waves, designed to scramble communications inside the tent from being heard outside by a listening device or an eavesdropper. All communication is secure, encrypted, and relayed from fiber optics in the tent to secure satellites. Though the specifications are classified, SCIFs are mandated to be totally soundproof and possess an “Intrusion Detection System” to detect break-ins.

The president’s SCIF is guarded at all times, and can require a combination of pin numbers, access badges, and biometric data to gain entry. For more information, click here. [BBC via Gizmodo]