Marcos Rezende, a Brazilian-Canadian product and user experience (UX) designer, has developed a privacy-focused mobile application called NearLens. This innovative app aims to address the growing concern of camera-equipped smart glasses and their potential to record individuals without their knowledge. Rezende, who previously worked at Microsoft and is currently a senior product designer at Hive, a Kitchener-Waterloo event marketing platform, has created NearLens as a side project.
NearLens is designed to detect nearby smart glasses by listening for Bluetooth signals associated with camera-equipped eyewear. It tracks these signals in real-time, providing users with a notification when they are in the vicinity of such devices. This is particularly relevant given the increasing presence of smart glasses in public spaces, such as the Ray-Ban Meta, which can discreetly record individuals.
The app's development was influenced by Rezende's postgraduate project at Lisbon's IADE, where he utilized AI tools to create the first version of NearLens in just two weeks, with 328 software commits. Importantly, NearLens prioritizes user privacy by not accessing cameras, microphones, or personal data. It also does not compile analytics or leverage third-party software development kits, ensuring end-to-end privacy.
Rezende's app has been tested in various locations, with interesting results. At Ottawa's TD Place Arena, NearLens detected 15 signals consistent with camera-equipped smart glasses among 7,000 people over three hours. In contrast, it returned zero matches at the city's Meridian Theatres, highlighting the variability in smart glasses usage.
The growing popularity of smart glasses is evident, with Meta reporting a tripling in daily usage year-over-year. This trend is supported by a Business of Fashion-McKinsey report, which predicts that smart glasses sales will quadruple in 2026 due to more affordable and sleek options. However, the increasing prevalence of these devices raises concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse.
NearLens offers a practical solution to this growing issue, allowing users to be aware of their surroundings and take necessary precautions. Rezende's commitment to keeping the app free underscores his belief that society needs to determine the appropriate regulations and guidelines for smart glasses before widespread adoption. As the technology evolves, apps like NearLens will play a crucial role in safeguarding individual privacy in an increasingly connected world.
