Google (GOOGL -1.82%) has made headlines and courted controversy with its nascent Google Glass device, a set of Internet-connected, voice-activated eyeglasses that can augment what its users see. Proponents tout its potential uses for navigation, fitness, translation, and more, while its critics condemn the privacy problems inherent in a set of glasses that can capture video or take photos without other people's knowledge. But while Google Glass has made a big impression in the press, it may have far less of an impact on the company's stock.
Fool analysts Sam Davidson and Nathan Alderman discuss the potential and the limitations of Google Glass while considering wearable technology in this week's episode of Geekstock, The Motley Fool's new Web show, in which Sam, Nathan, and host Ellen Bowman introduce you to the big-money names behind your favorite movies, toys, video games, comics, and more.
Sam's had hands-on experience with The Motley Fool's own Google Glass unit, and reports that it was a big hit when he took it home to share with his family over the holidays. While the programs it can run are few and limited now, Sam thinks they've got a lot of promise.
But both Sam and Nathan believe that Glass alone won't move the needle for Google's stock. It's just another one of the many ways Google is pursuing its corporate bread and butter: selling online advertisements. While Glass may provide a promising platform for that effort, it's far from the only way Google is reaching out to users.
Nathan also discusses why Google's $1,000-plus share price isn't quite as expensive as it seems, and suggests one way that investors with an interest in the company, but without giant piles of cash just lying around, may still be able to invest in its future.
Please watch the video to discover how Google Glass helped Sam's vision-impaired dad, and discover what's hiding in the cushions of Ellen's desk chair. And be sure to check back here often for more Geekstock segments.
