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Google made many riveting announcements today at Google I/O 2016, Android users have a lot to look forward to.
Competitors have a new standard to catch up to. From 1995’s BackRub to today's OS universe, the tech giant has been a leading cavalry in changing the world with keeping innovation original, reachable, and relatively affordable. Here recently there has been debate about Google Now lagging behind the likes of Siri and Cortana’s personalities, rumors of a Google powered central hub, and Android VR. What are the possibilities for technology and usability in the foreseeable future?
While the idea of Artificial Intelligence has been both equal parts fascinating and terrifying thanks to hollywood block-busters like Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man (2008). What we have today from the notable Siri, Cortana, and Google Now are more of complex assistants, however they feel more and more like real Ai every update. Google Now was arguably the most useful of the three for time, then lagged behind when computer conversation technology changed the game. Today, it seems that our favorite search engine company has simply been polishing their assistant behind the curtains. As almost a second system integrated into the voice activated search bar, Google Assistant refines the remembering feature that examines previous inquiries to tailor the current search question or task. Even though we have seen this in other assistants before, what sets this apart is the years of experience behind it.
The most impressive feature of the improved Google Now is the release of the Google Home. Due to leaks and current limitations of the ideal of a central hub set by Echo, Home’s presentation wasn’t all that shocking. However the important points we can examine from it is that it seems as though Google is less likely to back out of projects these days, and we will see a more aggressive interconnection between Google enabled devices in an almost modular way. Stacking standalone devices together. Soon, all Devices on a Gmail account may act as a basic form of Jarvis (again, inspiration from Iron Man seems to be prevalent) running seamlessly between cars, wearables, TVs, phones, IoT and more. Could Google not be giving their assistant a personal name until it’s finished? Where is Apple’s Siri in this interconnected race?
Just when technology seemed as though it couldn't go much farther, the sci-fi immersion of VR, then AR spread like wildfire. Meeting the demands of gamers everywhere in the form of Oculus, Vive, Gear and Cardboard. Google believes they have it figured out that virtual reality needs to be mobile, un-tethered, and doesn’t require a lot of expensive additional hardware.This was evident with the Google Cardboard which seemed almost laughable at first. Rather than being a solid product, when one steps back, Cardboard was more of a statement. Against the Vive and Oculus especially, who used extra sensors and tethering to a powerful rig, Cardboard reminded users of how powerful the current smart phones really are. If you have used any Cardboard apps, you may have noticed that graphics don’t have to come from Unreal Engine in order to be immersive. With that in mind, rather than the headset Android turned the upgrading into self improvement, promising a built in VR mode. Now if only Google will keep thinking modular, and consider add-ons for VR, or even allowing other devices to become extensions for Android VR such as wearables enabling arm tracking or Home aiding in mapping out the surrounding area until Project Tango gets here.
Late 2016 and early 2017 very well may be another turning point in technology and our daily lives. As long as Google engineers continue thinking outside the box to find what needs refined, and keeps with modular design (stacking stand alone devices concept and the Ara concept), casual Android users and techies alike can look forward to childhood dreams of the Jetsons coming true.
Author- Jacob A Anderson
2:41pm 5/18/2016