“用户体验 (user experience)”在这几年已经成为科技产业界奉行的真言，不久前Google所发表的扩增实境眼镜 Project Glass ，则是该理念能如何被发扬光大的案例之一。
这些日子以来，任何一个自我尊重之标准组织若想催生某个技术，定义使用者情境已经成为基本礼节；这很好，很实用，但当那些自认是行销专家的人说：“这与硬件无关，而是用户体验；”就太过头了──这样说没错，但别忘了，是硬件创造用户体验，或者搞砸它。
就像其它成千上万的人们一样，我也很欣赏Google针对Project Glass原型与概念所公布的有趣视频与精致图片，而且完全同意该研发项目的幕后伴奏主题“科技应该是能为你服务(technology should work for you)。”
从这个角度来看，扩增实境眼镜的概念是合理的；拥有一个可全面关照你的生活，并提供语境敏感(context sensitive)警报与连结的智能型中介，能为你节省时间、金钱与精力，还能让你一整天都联机。它会告诉你，想见的朋友就在某家书店外面，或是地铁停驶了、但你可以怎么走到目的地…听起来超级酷，但完全是不切实际的。
Omkesmc
我不知道你的虚拟实境体验是如何，但当我尝试透过Google的411语音查号台服务找一个电话号码时，其命中率充其量只是二流；就连英特尔(Intel)的自动化公司总机，都无法识别出我想找的一个该公司资深公关人员的名字(而且我试了三次)。我不会再相信当前语音识别系统的建议而跑去绕远路，我宁可直接跟小朋友问路。
Omkesmc
以上这点在Google Project Glass可能有的技术问题中，只是皮毛而已；试想，一个联机一整天、会扫描你的视野、聆听你的声音并维持宽带网络联机的装置，其尺寸可能会像个小砖头那么大，光是所需电池容量可能就超过一台最新iPad，而且会烫着你。此外，还有关于追踪的问题，这我们就不要再进一步谈了`.
Google所提供的美丽Project Glass情境图显示，这样一个装置是可以做成适合挂在眼镜侧边的小小附件；他们应该是省略了一些部分，其实你可能同时得穿戴着有太阳能发电板的帽子与外套，还得穿上内含石墨烯超级计算机、可采集能量的运动鞋。
我是完全从未来的角度去看我们该往哪走、以及思考该怎么走，才能实现那样一个装置；这那需要的不只是酷炫的图片，而是应该针对虚拟实境技术障碍以及该如何克 服它们的各种方法，进行开放性、理性的讨论。我很想请Google的聪明工程师来说说，整个产业界应该要怎么做才能实现他们的愿景；但老实说我没时间…
因为我最近正忙着制作一支非常酷的视频影片，描述的是一种将颠覆都市规划的喷射背包，而且它还能冲泡出香醇的拿铁咖啡！
编译：Judith Cheng
本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载
参考英文原文：Project Glass: The tyranny of user experience，by Rick Merritt
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Project Glass: The tyranny of user experience
Rick Merritt
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The “user experience” has become the tech mantra in recent years. The announcement this week of Google’s Project Glass is an example of how this philosophy can be pushed too far.
It's de rigueur these days for any self-respecting standards group to start by defining user scenarios--what it wants to enable. That's fine, practical. But it's becoming far to chic for self-styled marketing mavens to say, "It's not the hardware, it's the user experience." Sure, but let's not forget its the hardware that creates a user experience--or fails to.
Like thousands of others I enjoyed the fun video and classy pictures of prototypes and concepts Google posted this week. And I totally agree with the trio behind the project that “technology should work for you.”
In that respect, the concept of augmented reality glasses makes sense. How fun and useful to have an intelligent agent watch your life unfold and provide context sensitive alerts and links that save time, money and energy and keep you connected through your day.
The friend you are trying to meet is outside the bookstore. Subway service is suspended, but here’s a map for a walking route. Utterly cool, but totally impractical.
I don’t know about your experience of reality, but when I try to get a phone number using voice recognition on 411 the hit rate is mediocre at best. Even Intel Corp.’s automated attendant did not recognize (after three attempts) the name of one of its veteran PR people when I tried to call him this week. I wouldn’t trust a detour suggested by a current voice recognition system any more than I would ask directions from a toddler.
But this issue only scratches the surface of the technical problems Google’s Project Glass suggests. Having an always-on device that lasts all day, scans your field of vision, listens for your voice and maintains a broadband Internet link would require a device the size of a small brick. The battery requirement alone would outpace the needs of the new iPad which is burning the laps of devotees as I write.
Then there are the issues around retina tracking. Let's not even go there.
The happy models in Google’s pictures suggest this could all be done with a little attachment that fits on the side of your glasses. No doubt they neglected to picture the solar panel hat and jacket you need to wear and the energy-harvesting tennis shoes made from graphene supercomputers.
I’m all for looking into the distant future to see where we want to be and map out a road to get there. But such an exercise involves more than flashy videos and pictures. It requires an open, intelligent discussion about real technology barriers and ways to address them.
I would love to hear from some of the smart people at Google about what the industry needs to do to move in the direction of that vision. But frankly, I don’t have time for it.
I am too busy these days producing a really cool video about my jet pack that will revolutionize urban planning. It makes a great latte, too.
责编：Quentin
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