Exploring social perceptions of everyday smartglass use in Australia

by Fareed Kaviani, Ben Lyall, Sjaan Koppel

Smartglasses like Ray-Ban Stories by Meta are now commercially available, offering users features like photography, videography, music playback, phone calls, and content sharing. While existing research identifies barriers to adoption, no study has investigated the social acceptability of these commercially available devices. This is crucial because devices like Ray-Ban Stories are considered precursors to Augmented Reality-enabled smartglasses, and understanding current public perceptions is vital before further advancements. This study aimed to examine the social acceptability of everyday smartglass use. An online survey recruited 1037 Australian residents aged 18+ (58.6% owners, n = 608; 41.4% non-owners, n = 429). The WEAR scale assessed social acceptability. Owners perceived the device as aligning with their desired self-image, while non-owners expressed stronger concerns regarding privacy, anti-social behaviour, and potential harm. The WEAR scores highlight contrasting expectations between owners and non-owners regarding appropriate technology use, suggesting a potential source of social tension. Further research is needed to understand how individuals negotiate the use of these devices in public spaces.