Questions: Case Study-4: Is the Glass Half Full? The Launch, Death Struggles And Potential Reemergence Of Google Glass 13. What is the overall impact of Google's initiatives in wearable technology market? 14. What can later entrants into the wearable technology market learn from Google's new product introduction? In the wake of this negative press, Google pulled Glass nearly completely from the world. Not only did it stop producing new versions of the product, but it also removed dedicated social media pages on Facebook and Twitter, as if to pretend the launch had never happened. In so doing, it prompted many observers to proclaim the death of Google Glass. But not so fast. Post-mortem accounts suggest that the tremendous buzz and highly touted launch of the product-those marketing techniques that seemingly promised its success-actually were exactly what Google Glass engineers had hoped to avoid. The research and development team knew that the initial product had lots of bugs; they never intended it to be released for widespread use. Instead, they called for a slow, quiet rollout, in which selected users would beta test the prototypes and provide specific feedback and information that would enable Google to create a more functional product for the wider market. Somewhere along the line though, the quiet rollout transformed into a media blitz, and the expectations for Google Glass rose well above any potential benefits that it was even designed to offer at that point in its life cycle. Today, Google has basically no official comment to offer about the future of Google Glass. But a dedicated team still exists at Google, overseen by two managers: a former jewelry designer and a former Apple product developer. These hires suggest that Google might be focusing more on the design appeal of potential new versions. Moreover, the continued growth of wearable technology-from the Apple Watch to the Fitbit to Samsung's Gear-reinforce the appeal of the underlying concept: Modem users love their personal technology, and they want a viable, effective means to use their personal devices in hands-free, convenient ways. Google thus might emerge as an early entrant and innovator in this market. It also seemingly has broken open the path for other technology firms that look at its example and find inspiration for entering product markets on their own. For example, recent reports suggest that Snapchat has been hiring hardware experts and engineers with vast experience working on other wearable technology projects. Does that mean Snap Glass might be the next new thing on the market