They can't, it's as potential as using Remote desktop connection in windows. It's done over the internet.

Not so certain of that. With the existing Xbox Companion Apps (and SmartGlass is the next version of this) it works on home network as a peer after initial connection through Xbox Live.

VicViper said:
That's what nintendo said about it:

“With Wii, when we brought out motion controls and introduced that as a new idea in gaming, initially there were people who didn’t understand it. Three years later, our competitors both came out with their own motion control systems.”
 

pretty sure ms had a motion controll gimmick on their sidewinder pad back in the 90's for motocross madness... and ms concept is hardly anything like either wiimote ir move from a technological stand point..... but i'll give you that one anyway  

 
“We announced second screen gaming last year, and it’s somewhat flattering that it only took people a year this time around.”

pretty sure you can use some halo atlas app already on smartphone... which is already a form of second screen augmentation.... and other pads had screen before.... but here again I'll give you that....

“Smart Glass just doesn’t look like a peripheral for a games system. Microsoft may have used TV shows and IMDB to showcase Smart Glass, but as far as games go, gamers trying to incorporate Smart Glass into play sessions may find themselves limited by their number of hands.”

“I’m not sure how, as a gamer, I would manipulate a second screen with most hands on my controller. We don’t have three hands, unfortunately.”

on that last one though I'm not giving it to you I don't see how you can do with 2 hands on the pad use the touch screen efficiently.... so that lame excuse I have only 2 hands doesn't work..... plus even if true I already pause my games countless of times to go on the computer for a lot of things smartglass appears to offer/promise in a readilly available practicale fashion.... so it is just improving/stream lining what millions of gamers already do.... Haloway point content is the best exemple of what improvement you could get immediatly available for countless of games..... ie I can keep open the map in assasin's creed and have info directly where I'm at select a new objectif without pausing sliding the map etc..... inventory in coutless of RPGs.... do hotswap of equipment etc.... as an add on I think smart glass can have a huge potential for gamers than want to go deeper in a game or even want convenience.... 

I'm not saying smartglass is a killer app for the WiiU but saying it is useless in game or useless in general because of our human limitation is either a lame excuse.... or people lack seriously of imagination...... to me just by simplifying what gamers already do anyway makes it a great idea.... and potentially a great beta test before taking the final decision about the next generation....If MS transform their ideas such as kinect and smartglass from this gen to next gen into half of what they did with XBox Live between last gen and this gen.... we'll have some serious good times in perspective...

I don't see how you can do with 2 hands on the pad use the touch screen efficiently....

Why?

Every single report using it said it's very confortable and light.

I meant having my hands using the pad controls while using the tablet..... beside the augmented "reality" you can't really access the touch screen without letting at least one hand go of the regular input button of the pad... that's what I meant...... so anything that requires touch is as much doable with any other pad... I can keep one hand on my XB pad and use the other on a separate tablet... that's more what I meant.... on the contrary to other people I never expected smartglass to do the kind of thing the WiiU can do when it comes to sniping and stuff like that....

Never played a DS before? It's quite nice. You can even hold a stylus while playing. I guarantee you it's better than using a smartphone or a tablet alongside with a controller.