Google Glass may obstruct peripheral vision, dangerous for drivers

People wearing Google Glass may experience significant blind spots on their right side, which could interfere with tasks such as driving, crossing the street and playing sports, U.S. researchers said Tuesday. Three people were included in the analysis of the technology – all had 20/20 vision. The findings showed “significant” obstruction in peripheral vision on the right side, where the device is mounted. Visual tests also showed that the gear lined up with people’s eyes in such a way that it obstructed their field of view. The researchers said, however, that further study in a larger pool of wearers is needed.

The device created a clinically meaningful visual field obstruction in the upper right quadrant. Conventional spectacle frames can reduce visual field, sometimes causing absolute blind spots, and head­mounted devices have even more pronounced frames.

Team of investigators at the University of California, San Francisco