Look out: A wink from a Google Glass user is more than meets the eye

Look out: A wink from a Google Glass user is more than meets the eye
Could you be trusted with a Google Glass wink-cam?

Rumours suggesting that Google Glass users will be able to take a photo simply by winking were given more credence in reports today.

Following multiple reports of the feature last month, TechCrunch sources claimed a small number of engineers are using a version of the specs that allows the winking feature to be turned on and off in the device's settings.

One source explained that the feature will take a photo instantly when the user performs an elongated wink and can even be trained to recognise the wearer's personal winking style, so to speak.

Calibrating the length of the wink required to take a photo would, of course, prevent Google Glass from snapping a pic every time you blinked, the results of which would be quite interesting if nothing else.

Don't be a winker

Just last week controversy erupted when a third-party developer created an application that offered the same functionality.

However, knowledge that the feature may have been willingly built into Google's software is likely to add to the privacy storm already surrounding the specs.

Up until recently, it was felt that users needed to vocally command the Glass unit to take a picture, but if shots can be taken even more covertly then that's a different story altogether.

Of course, it may be that Google is only testing the feature and may decide to drop it before Glass goes on sale to the public, which is likely to be sometime in late 2013/early 2014.

Chris Smith

A technology journalist, writer and videographer of many magazines and websites including T3, Gadget Magazine and TechRadar.com. He specializes in applications for smartphones, tablets and handheld devices, with bylines also at The Guardian, WIRED, Trusted Reviews and Wareable. Chris is also the podcast host for The Liverpool Way. As well as tech and football, Chris is a pop-punk fan and enjoys the art of wrasslin'.