CODE Five Things We Learned About Google Glass While Using It At TomorrowWorld

“Are those the Google glasses?” asked the guy in the furry headdress, hemp-rope sandals, and no shirt, after halting his manic dancing to dubstep artist Zomboy.

Why yes, yes they are.

“Can I see them?”

Errr…

If there’s one thing TomorrowWorld (September 27-29) taught me about Glass -- the new invention from Google that promises to speed us toward our inevitable cyborg future -- it’s that its mystique knows no bounds. Even in the beating heart of EDM country (in this case, producer ID&T’s three-day festival in Atlanta, Georgia), far away from the media pundits who have already dubbed anyone spotted with the coveted headgear “Glass-holes,” people know what it is, and want to get their facepaint-stained hands all over it. From the press tent to the Main Stage to the food courts, it took about 30 seconds from the moment Glass emerged from my bag for heads to start turning and the boldest among them to approach.

Privileged as I was, it took a bit of time to figure out the strange hardware, which looks part Geordi La Forge visor, part grandpa bifocal. There are tilt settings to help get the fit right, so that the prismatic crystal that serves as your right eye’s mini-screen is somewhat central to your vision. The side controller piece requires precise tap and swipe motions (both left/right, and up/down), which can result in social media faux pas if done incorrectly (No, DELETE that picture of the muddy floor, don’t post it to my Facebook wall!)

But once I got the thing connected to reliable Wi-Fi, tethered to my Samsung Note with Bluetooth, loaded with the appropriate apps (it’s like a smartphone in that respect), and properly fitted to my noggin, the futuristic fun started.

Here are five things I learned about Google Glass while wandering the expanse of TomorrowWorld.