MPAA and National Association of Theatre Owners Ban Google Glass, Other Wearable Tech
Recently, I found an article on The Hollywood Reporter, which claims that the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) has banned Google Glass in their theaters. According to this article, many movie theater companies fear that Google Glass will promote bringing recording devices into movie theaters and that act goes against prevalent anti-piracy laws. While this article made it seem that the entertainment industry is against technology innovation, NATO stated that they “Have a long history of welcoming technological advances and recognize the strong consumer interest …however, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward using any recording device while movies are being shown”. In summation, NATO has taken a strong stance regarding Google Glass because it views such technology as promoting piracy which NATO hopes to avoid in their theaters. While I understand the risk that Google Glass does pose to anti-piracy legislation, I also would argue that allowing Google Glass everywhere at least for a trial period is integral. By figuring out where Google Glass can and will fit into popular culture is important in structuring our already technology filled world. By banning this product, movie theaters and other companies alike are closing themselves off to the possibilities Google Glass holds and shows the everyday consumer that corporations are not as welcoming to new technologies as we once thought.
The Google Empire 