The Guardian reports that Drafthouse Cinemas, which has 20 sites across the United States, says that users of Google Glass will not be allowed to use them while watching films because the wearable glasses can be used to surreptitiously record video. "We've been talking about this potential ban for over a year," says Drafthouse CEO Tim League. "Google Glass did some early demos here in Austin and I tried them out personally. At that time, I recognised the potential piracy problem that they present for cinemas. I decided to put off a decision until we started seeing them in the theatre, and that started happening this month."
Attitudes towards Google Glass appear to be hardening in the US. In January, cinema chain AMC said the eyewear was "not appropriate" for use in cinemas, following an incident in which homeland security officers interrogated a Glass wearer during a screening of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Columbus, Ohio.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @08:49PM
All consumers must have their memories wiped upon exiting the theater. We can't have them remembering movies or they won't come back for repeat viewings!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @08:51PM
Hell, this is terrible news. I'm never setting foot in another theater ever again ever!!!!!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by BradTheGeek on Friday June 13 2014, @08:52PM
I can do the same with my cellphone placed correctly in a shirt pocket.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @08:54PM
You're banned! BANNED FOR LiFE!
(Score: 1) by Lunix Nutcase on Friday June 13 2014, @09:23PM
And they will kick you out for that as well.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday June 14 2014, @03:11AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 5, Insightful) by jcross on Friday June 13 2014, @09:25PM
Yeah, as if there's going to be a lot of demand for a video of a movie distorted by the lenses of a tiny wide-angle camera, interspersed with shots of the popcorn, munching sounds, and glances at the hottie one row in front. Because people who pirate movies are looking for that authentic theater POV experience! Plus there couldn't be better versions out there on the internet already, right?
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @10:26PM
Oh yeah I always watch the pirated movies because there might be a slim chance of some hottie walking in front of the screen and casting an enormous sideboob shadow.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @10:47PM
I don't know what kind of "movies" you watch son but I think you're doing it wrong!
(Score: 1) by SrLnclt on Friday June 13 2014, @11:12PM
Exactly. Do people even still download and watch CAMs? Just wait a few weeks for a real release.
(Score: 2) by Silentknyght on Friday June 13 2014, @11:59PM
So...
1) this is for all of 20 theater locations in the entire (continental) United States of America. I think my greater metro area, alone, has more than 20 theaters in it.
2) Who would voluntarily try to start a fight with the theater by (obviously) wearing Google Glass into it? Just like with your regular cell phone, wtf do you think you're going to do with it during a movie, besides disturb other people?
/nonstory
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 14 2014, @12:53AM
I deplore glassholes, but the assumption has to be that a glasshole is using prescription lenses and needs them on to view the movie. That's what makes it a tougher case. I would prefer they be banned wholesale on a municipal level.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Saturday June 14 2014, @10:35AM
I think it's not that hard to distinguish between Google Glass and sight-correcting regular glasses.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 1, Redundant) by Lagg on Saturday June 14 2014, @01:01AM
Because the movies made available for people too impatient to wait for a DVD release to do their downloading are known for their popularity and quality as it is right? I'm sure that google glass with its tiny little lens and quite possibly worse resolution than a smartphone will result in a great boon of cam videos!
Granted, it'd make for a pretty good simulation of going to a theater. The person wearing it moving their head around a lot. Plastic wrapping sounds everywhere, people talking (which I'm sure would be just so crystal clear with glass' tiny little mic.) and the actual movie only being 3/4s in frame.
Yes I know this is dripping with sarcasm but really even though I don't care for glass at all and think it's an overhyped and overpriced piece of crap some of these companies' reactions are just silly.
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 1) by E_NOENT on Saturday June 14 2014, @09:46AM
In case you haven't seen this yet, I found this one pretty good:
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/w95a3v/glass-half-empty [cc.com]
I'm not in the business... I *am* the business.