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The creepiest Google Glass app yet: Winky

Updated Oct 30th, 2013 3:35PM EDT
Google Glass wink application

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It can sometimes be unsettling when a person winks at you from across the bar. A Google Glass developer has brought things to a whole new level with a new application that allows Google’s wearable computing device to snap a picture with a simple wink of the eye. Developer Mike DiGiovanni was able to enable the wink gesture in Google Glass and has released the source code so that others to utilize the feature as well. The application, cleverly known as Winky, allows users to snap a photo even if the screen is turned off, effectively eliminating the need to issue a voice command.

DiGiovanni has released Winky as pure Android source code, which requires advanced users to compile the code and run it as an APK file. After the application is installed, users must then calibrate the program before any winking will be recognized.

“At this point, I’m figuring most of you guys with Glass know how to do this,” he wrote on his Google+ page. “I’m trying to stay away from providing just APKs since there may be personal information that is less protected than on your average Android device and I don’t want there to be any questions about whether I’m touching your data. This is different from the typical Glassware that the NY Times or Path provide.”

Dan covers technology and mobile devices for BGR, specializing in U.S. carrier plans, phones, tablets, and more. He previously worked at AT&T in corporate communications.