Augmented or ‘virtual’reality has long been a topic in film and TV, and has often been explored in ludicrous ways- in the sixth film of the softcore porn series Emmanuelle, for example, the title character uses ‘virtual reality’ to help a friend rediscover the joys of sex after sexual trauma. Yet augmented reality is no longer merely a plot device for softcore Frenchfilms. The wearable computer that Google has been busy developing, ‘Google Glass’, has porn industry insiders plotting sexual scenarios that the creators of the Emmanuelle series could only dream of.
Google’s latest innovation, which features a minute computer system and camera concealed in apair of specs, is able to shoot High Definition video from the point-of-view ofthe wearer, as Google has demonstrated in trials where extreme sports enthusiasts streamed live footage of skydiving and other activities to curious viewers.
The film recording capabilities of Google’s flashy creation have naturally causeda stir in the porn industry. Directors are constantly trying to find novel filming angles and sex positions to arouse viewers, and the promise of a wearable video camera is that porn fanatics will be able to see all the action from the viewpoints of their favourite stars.
The glasses have raised worries about privacy in some quarters – just imagine the deluge of celebrity sex tapes that will hit the internet if the glasses were completely inconspicuous! Anyone who is worried about being filmed unawares can relax forthe time being, however, as the display of the device apparently glows when it is performing any recording. You’d have to be pretty daft to not notice that anything is amiss when your lover looks like someone out of Blade Runner or Star Trek and has an odd, glowing pair of glasses on his or herface.
While adult content developers (including company ‘MiKandi’) have been keen to cash in on Google Glass, it remains to be seen whether a new fad in viewing (and making) porn will catch on, or whether the technology will be only a passing fad.
