Google Inc (GOOG) Glass is Welcome in U.K. … But to a Point

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) must be just thrilled that it doesn’t have to do its own market research when it comes to its wearable computing device known affectionately as Google Glass. Google can simply compile the information from various published polls around the world that discuss Google Glass and Mountain View can get a sense from there  what the marketplace for its wearable computer might be and how large it is.

Oh, and also Google can find out  how free and open that same market is to such a device. And in the U.K., for example, it seems that while Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass seems to be widely accepted across the pond, quite a few people do not have much of an appreciation for what the device is capable of doing. In fact, a good number of people would be OK with Google Glass provided there are restrictions placed on its use.

For those who follow the EU and the U.K. will certainly not be surprised by a poll that was released this week.

Privacy is a huge issue among EU residents, especially when they are on the Internet – or could be if a person near them was wearing a computer like Google Glass. The signature eyewear by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) was the primary subject of the poll, which asked about 4,000 U.K. and U.S. adults their opinions about Google Glass with the juxtaposition of privacy issues.

While on the one hand the results are  encouraging for Google, it also could serve as a a piece of advice to Google to perhaps address some privacy concerns within the device rather than waiting for legislative bodies to act. In the poll, nearly seven of 10 people said they believed Google Glass wearers in public places should be heavily regulated in their use of the device due to those privacy concerns.

Among the other findings in the poll, more than half of those polled said they have some amount of privacy concern about the device, while a full 20 percent of those survey said that Google Glass should be banned altogether. Some respondents were aware of a recent Glass hack in May  that potentially opened up the user and everyone around it to privacy and security issues, which of course had an impact on the results.

Is there good news for  Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) to come out of this poll?

On the positive side of the survey, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) could be heartened that 18 percent of those surveyed said they planned to buy the device when it hits store shelves sometime in 2014. The numbers in the U.S. are generally smaller in terms of privacy concerns and higher in number among those saying they intend to buy Google Glass.

What are your thoughts about this poll, and how do you think it will affect Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its continued development of the Glass technology? Are you concerned about privacy with this device? Giver us your feedback in the comments section below.

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