Google Glass visionary is shocked that people “react sensitively” about themselves

It’s hard to even make up a better lampoon of the “clueless technologist” than this (alternative headline in my professionally-curated newsletter to myself: “I am ‘amazed’ at the name Astro Teller). There is a point at which techno-utopianism can be taken so far up one’s own ass as to be absurdist, and this incident is far from Exhibit A.

That Astro sees not the slightest bit of difference between security cameras installed in a bar (whose footage is unlikely to be aggressively monitored by a highly-trained team of opportunistic media ninjas… or anyone, for that matter, on a local bar’s P&L) and a camera installed on a random douchebag’s face that gives him instant ability to post video footage to a social network with millions of (reluctant) users for fun, hijinx, and monetizable attention is highly troubling. That the majority of society’s economic spoils tend to be earmarked for highly talented but dangerously socially and ethically clueless “visionaries” is worse.

I know — it’s complicated. And I of all people should think twice about throwing stones. But maybe it’s worth trying to shatter the walls of my own unexamined delusions too. A little self-examination goes a long, long way — especially in this age of perfect mirrors.