Should Google Glass be banned at live poker tables?
Is wearable technology likely to cause cheating at the table or will it enhance the poker experience? Barry Carter discusses.
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2014 is all set to be the year of wearable technology, and at the forefront of that is Google Glass. A set of glasses with a computer built in. They work like a smart phone and can take pictures and video, can be used to make video calls, text messages, emails and has a number of apps being developed.
The glasses are not available yet to the general public, but last year a beta team of 'early adopters' got the glasses for $1,400 to test them out and develop apps.
They have also courted controversy. A lot of people think they are an infringement on privacy, others think they are dangerous if used when driving (The UK is one of the first countries set to ban them on the road). A number of businesses including cinemas have already banned them, and one of the big objectors have been casino chains.
Several casinos have already banned them and Nevada regulators have thus far elected to let each individual casino in Vegas choose whether or not they want them restricted, because the potential to cheat using them is strong.
In particular poker comes up in these discussions. Last month Esquire magazine ran an article in which the author used Google Glass to cheat in his home game. He used the glasses to record the action via a live stream, where his professional poker player cousin was watching, and relaying instructions back to him. It was just a fun home game and his friends were aware he was using the technology in some way to assist him, but the point remains he showed how easy it was to cheat using them.
So should Google Glass be an instant ban in the poker room?
Is wearable technology likely to cause cheating at the table or will it enhance the poker experience? Barry Carter discusses.
Tweet
2014 is all set to be the year of wearable technology, and at the forefront of that is Google Glass. A set of glasses with a computer built in. They work like a smart phone and can take pictures and video, can be used to make video calls, text messages, emails and has a number of apps being developed.
The glasses are not available yet to the general public, but last year a beta team of 'early adopters' got the glasses for $1,400 to test them out and develop apps.
They have also courted controversy. A lot of people think they are an infringement on privacy, others think they are dangerous if used when driving (The UK is one of the first countries set to ban them on the road). A number of businesses including cinemas have already banned them, and one of the big objectors have been casino chains.
Several casinos have already banned them and Nevada regulators have thus far elected to let each individual casino in Vegas choose whether or not they want them restricted, because the potential to cheat using them is strong.
In particular poker comes up in these discussions. Last month Esquire magazine ran an article in which the author used Google Glass to cheat in his home game. He used the glasses to record the action via a live stream, where his professional poker player cousin was watching, and relaying instructions back to him. It was just a fun home game and his friends were aware he was using the technology in some way to assist him, but the point remains he showed how easy it was to cheat using them.
So should Google Glass be an instant ban in the poker room?