Google Technologies
Introduction
Google is a global leader in major areas of innovation in the technological community. In particular, the entity is making major strides in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Google is investing a significant amount of resources in researching and prioritizing future technological advancements. The entity is clear in its ambition to see the full exploitation of concepts such as artificial intelligence (Koenig, Oseid, & Vorenberg, 2018). Already artificial intelligence is solving real life problems such as in the prediction of earthquakes. To that extent, Google is funding in addition to mentoring and advising researchers, scientists and experts in that field. Most people know Google for software in numerous application such as Google earth, Google map and Google search. Google has grown to be a leader in internet usage applications leading to significant development in computer systems.
Google Self Driving Automobile
The google self-driven car is a dream come true for individuals who have envisioned themselves typing or speaking to their cars. Better yet, through the google self-driven technology, individuals can just input the destination to the interface of the vehicle and proceed to read a book as the car navigates to the location (Teoh & Kidd, 2017). Already there are some building blocks for google experts on self-driven cars. For instance, the crash prevention systems that warn people of impending obstacles. The technology is able to apply the brakes of the car automatically. Additionally, more advanced technology allows the cars to self-park by identifying free spots on the parking lots and automatically steering into the spaces. Car manufactures such as Mercedes Benz have a feature on a steering system with the ability to maneuver highways on certain circumstances. However, google does not intend to venture in the manufacturing of cars. Instead, the company intends to license the use of software and systems.
With the adoption of the new form of automotive technology, the company anticipates a significant disruption in the society. As usual, businesses that fail to advance fast enough will face some challenges (Teoh & Kidd, 2017). Experts approximate that automakers, insures, dealers and suppliers will make losses in the range of hundreds of billions of dollars. Apart from that, the governments will also lose a significant amount due to the decline of licensing fees, tolls and taxes. One of the changes expected is lighter cars due to the minimized steering components. Individuals will also stop needing parking lots in the places of work because the cars can self-drive and park somewhere else. Further, the people taking flights can reduce drastically if an individual can sleep in the car in an all-night journey.
In the google self-drive project, the aim is to increase car utilization from 10% to 75% by enabling sharing. Individuals do not need to own cars if they can summon on and drive up to where they are in minutes (Memon, Ahmed, Ali, Memon, & Shah, 2016). Additionally, people can share the spaces to wherever they want. 80% of the cars in the streets only have one driver. Therefore, the innovation can drastically reduce the number of cars on the roads. The household cost on transport is close to 18% of the incomes. On average, Americans use about $9,000 each year for the cost that they incur only 5% of their time each day. Reduced costs of movements made available by the self-driven cars can spare a portion of income for other uses such better healthcare or savings.
In 2030, experts predict that self-driven cars can create opportunities for technological developers and automaker wort $87 billion (Memon, Ahmed, Ali, Memon, & Shah, 2016). Car manufactures such as General Motors, Ford Motors and Toyota that hold close to 70% of the market share can have an increase of about $600 billion in car sales. However, in the initial stages of the launch of the self-driven cars, the sales will fall significantly and individuals popularize sharing. The cars will always have glass and steel, interior specifications, drive trains and some forms of human interface. Nevertheless, some features will change. For instance, the use of front seats could become optional. Some experts indicate an increase in profits for downstream car servicers because the manufactures will chose to focus on producing what they can best.
The improvement in technology will also have an impact on infrastructure. Parking lots cover close to one third of the land space in the United States (Memon, Ahmed, Ali, Memon, & Shah, 2016). With fewer cars, it is possible to repurpose the cities by availing more land for social amenities such as playgrounds and parks. Additionally, the reorganization will reduce pressure on the value of real estate due to the increase in supply. The increase in space could also have a significant environmental impact. For instance, it would mean greener spaces in the urban areas and revitalized suburb estates. Further, if there are fewer cars on the roads, it is possible to convert a significant portion of the funds meant for highway development to other aspects. The self-driven cars are environmentally friendly and the driving mode has a fuel efficiency that is 20% better than a human driving. Therefore, entities that operate on exploration, extraction and the distribution of hydrocarbons will experience a fluctuation in the profits. The rise in consumption will occur since the car will now do more errands for humans. Individuals will send out cars from the comfort of their homes or offices and wait for them to come back.
The other advantage of the self-driven cars is security. It is not possible for the cars to become high or drive too fast. However, human commit such errors all the time. According to research, 90% of the accidents on the roads are a consequence of human error (Gupta, 2019). To that extent, self-driven cars will reduce the severity and the frequency of accidents. Therefore, the insurance costs could also fall significantly. According to research done by the University of Texas, if ten percent of car in the United Sates were self-driven, there would be $37 million of savings on the fuel and time. Additionally, there could be fewer deaths and injuries from accidents. At the capacity of 90%, the benefits can rise to the tune of $450 billion.
Google Glass
Google is also working on a technological headset. The glass is a voice and motion android device that takes the shape of a pair of glasses. The devices have the ability to display correspondence directly to the field of vision of the user. Essentially, google glass offers the augmented reality experience by the users (Kudina & Verbeek, 2019). The application makes use the audio, visual and the location of the user as inputs to process relevant information. For instance, when an individual enters the airport, he or she automatically receives reports on the flights status. Despite the numerous benefits, the form of technology has faced criticism in the past for concerns on private security. Google glass makes it possible to record all the events in a day. In that regard, google is looking at various options to resolve that challenge going forward.
Currently, google is focusing on making the glasses for workplaces such as warehouses and factories. The android operating system on the glasses is able to run virtualization tools known as glassware (Sinkin, Rahman & Nahabedian, 2016). Optimized glassware facilitates the devices to deliver application to the users. The glasses have an inbuilt Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability. Additionally, the glasses have video and photographing capabilities. The smart glasses users voice recognition and motion to process the commands from the users. Touch pads are also available on the rims of glasses. The device passes requested information in small packages to the wearer through the micro-projector. The devices rely on private channels of communications that are only accessible to the users. To display the images on the lenses, the devices use the field sequential color liquid crystal. The workers are able to view the images in true colors. The field sequential color is television form of technology that transmits primary color information in images that rely on the human perception and image to capture the information.
The main feature on the google glass is a small semi-transparent screen on the upper right hand. The display covers just five percent of the natural vision of the user. The part is essential because it transfers information to the user (Sinkin, Rahman & Nahabedian, 2016). To view the part on the screen, the wearer needs to look up and place the screen in direct line to the vision. According to the experts, an irregular display of the screen can have harmful effects on the wearer. Other features include the ability to take and share photos instantly. Additionally, the wearers can stream the images directly on google hangout. The glasses also enable the users to use google search engines the mobile data connections or Wi-Fi. The glasses also facilitate translations streamed directly to the wearers through the screens.
Individuals are also able to receive reminders of tasks and chores through a visual prompt notification that appears on the screen of the user. The notification can appear each time the user looks at a certain object (Sinkin, Rahman & Nahabedian, 2016). It is also possible to synchronize the glasses with calendars to enable reception of reminders of meetings and events. The devices also support the use of video and voice calls. The video calls show the other person on the line what the wearer is watching instead of face-to-face. Further, it is also possible to answer text images and email through voice dictation. A collaboration with google maps also enables the devices to display directions with the help of a map appearing on the screen. The glasses also respond to head and facial movements. Therefore, the user can scroll a page by tilting their head. The user can also manipulate the device will eye movements.
Google Map Visual Positioning System
The google map visual positioning system is a mobile phone feature that allows the use of the camera and elements of data to analyze where an individual is and how they can navigate a way. The feature enables google maps to figure out the surrounding of an individual and communicate the route the visual positioning system (Kumbhar, Survase, Mastud, Salunke, & Sirdeshpand, 2016). The usual google map enables individuals to move from one place to another by providing the turn-by-turn directions. However, the improved form of technology has the ability to go a step further to recommend faster routes to avoid traffic. The visual positioning systems are just like maps but they are able to offer more personalized features.
The technology is helpful in numerous areas. For instance, for business, the form of technology can help customers to find it fast. The personal interaction provided by the visual positioning system directs the foot traffic of the customers to the location (Kumbhar, Survase, Mastud, Salunke, & Sirdeshpand, 2016). The technology also uses cameras and the GPS system to inform the users of their surroundings. Extensive collection of the street view by google facilitates imagery and enables the application to define the location more accurately. The technology is able to display 3D directions in form of arrows and precise steps on the exact location of the destination. Further, by panning a camera towards certain streets, the technology is able to highlight various points of interest that are close such a retail stores or cafes. The conventional map is on the bottom of the screen and it keeps on relaying the general position to the user in respect to the surrounding.
The form of technology is new in map services. The adoption is likely to be high because it is available to all individuals with smartphones (Nair et al., 2018). Currently, the live view is only available for pedestrians. However, google intents to pass the benefit to other users. Some of the upcoming features on the device include updated timelines and an integration reservation system for services such as hotels. In later developments, users can also expect live views.
Google Duplex
The google duplex is a feature designed to help individuals to make business appointments through the phone without the interaction of a user. The form of artificial technology understands the voice of the user and the other person at the end of the call. Further, the technology facilitates responses with correct answers to inquiries mad by real people. The form of technology is able to use words such as ‘um” in pause breaks to appear human. In video illustration shown by google, the duplex technology was able to call a restaurants and it interacted with an employee at the other end of the line. Subsequently, google duplex was able to make a reservation in the restaurant. Afterwards, a notification to the user passed the information on the making of a reservation.
The google duplex application is available for devices higher than android 5. Currently, the technology is also able to book movie tickets. However, the creators of the feature state that in future it will be able to do much more. Some of the possible developments in future include reservations for doctor appointments and other appointments such as haircuts. Essentially, google duplex is a personal assistant feature by google. The feature has complete automation and it can make calls with a natural human sound instead of the conventional robotic tone. Further, google duplex is able to understand complicated sentences, long remarks and fast speeches.
Google Nest
Google nest is a brand by the entity used in marketing some of its products such as smoke detectors, streaming devices, smart speakers and many more. The initial owner of the brand nest made and supplied thermostats. Today, most of the products provided by Google nest are programmable, sensor driven, and Wi-Fi compatible (Meza, López, Quesada, & Guerrero, 2019). The google nest hub is able to provide a glance of any of the rooms in the home. The google assistant enables automation of the homes. Smart phone devices enables individuals to stay connected and offer convenience to busy lifestyles. In the use of smart phone device, most of the makers are trying to focus in the voice control capabilities. Google nest is ahead of that curve because most of its devices are able to understand spoken commands.
The google home hub is the central command center that unites all the automation devices that enable individuals to use doorbells, lights, cameras and other smart devices easily with just the voice. The google nest services also offer other services that help to simplify other tasks in life. The Google hub home screen enables the user to manipulate the television, check on the cameras, dim lights, locks the door and many more features (O’Leary, 2019). The google nest devices use the voice matching technology for accessing the personalized routines. For instance, by saying Hey Google, it can respond by reading out the schedule of the day and stating the morning weather. The user can also issue additional instructions on more reminder during the day. The design of the google nest devices and features maximizes productivity by ensuring that the schedule in on top of the mind of an individual. To that extent, the individual can navigate the rest of the day with ease.
Google nest also acts as a media hub. The users can listen to their favorite tunes on Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music and many more. The users can even play music from personal playlists. The feature is also enables the user to update the photo stream and makes sharing of the photos available to some individuals. At the end of the day, it is possible to shut down the google devices by saying good night. The devices then turn off the lights, locks the door and sets the alarm for the following morning. Google nest provide powerful home appliance features that help individuals to organize their time, control devices and provide information on the command of a voice.
Conclusion
The world of technology continues to benefit some of the strides taken by the company in expediting development. In the same way, the world is hopeful on the ability of google to develop concepts and products that are even more beneficial. Innovations by Google have had an impact to the world. Through the advancements, people can now use powerful devices that can connect to fast servers and networks that contain a lot of information. For instance, innovation of an application on mobile phones to tell the exact location of an individual through GPS. The applications go ahead to even remind individuals of their friend’s birthday. The developments give the forms of technology the power to change the world. The success achieved by google over the years is not only attributable to innovation but also to a good organization in its management structure. The management of the company is well aware of the strengths of the entity and they facilitate the efforts by the researchers and innovators.
References
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Koenig, M. L., Oseid, J. A., & Vorenberg, A. (2018). Ok Google, Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Human Lawyering. Marq. L. Rev., 102, 1269.
Kudina, O., & Verbeek, P. P. (2019). Ethics from within: Google Glass, the Collingridge dilemma, and the mediated value of privacy. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 44(2), 291-314.
Kumbhar, M., Survase, M., Mastud, P., Salunke, A., & Sirdeshpande, S. (2016). Real time web based bus tracking system. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 3(02), 632-635.
Memon, Q., Ahmed, M., Ali, S., Memon, A. R., & Shah, W. (2016, November). Self-driving and driver relaxing vehicle. In 2016 2nd International Conference on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (ICRAI) (pp. 170-174). IEEE.
Meza, A., López, G., Quesada, L., & Guerrero, L. A. (2019). Architecture to Design Booking Appointment Applications for the Smart Personal Assistant Alexa. In Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Proceedings (Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17).
Nair, V., Tsangouri, C., Xiao, B., Olmschenk, G., Seiple, W. H., & Zhu, Z. (2018). A hybrid indoor positioning system for blind and visually impaired using Bluetooth and Google tango. Journal on technology and persons with disabilities, 6.
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Sinkin, J. C., Rahman, O. F., & Nahabedian, M. Y. (2016). Google Glass in the operating room: the plastic surgeon’s perspective. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 138(1), 298-302.
Teoh, E. R., & Kidd, D. G. (2017). Rage against the machine? Google’s self-driving cars versus human drivers. Journal of safety research, 63, 57-60.
