How do people control smart glasses?
Common controls include buttons or touch surfaces on the frame, voice, a phone app and an additional wearable. A useful control scheme lets you start an action, recognize its result and recover from a mistake without a long interaction.
Back matters as much as select
We would judge a control by a complete task, such as opening a message and returning to what was there before. A demonstration of a single successful tap says little about accidental input or navigating out of the wrong screen. Voice also needs a clear listening state so the wearer knows when a request begins and ends.
Imagine carrying a bag while a card appears. You need to acknowledge it or dismiss it without learning a new gesture in that moment. The best control for that situation may differ from the best control while seated with your phone available. Consistency makes the difference easier to learn.
Sources
Sources checked September 13, 2026. How we research these answers ↗