Pushing the Boundaries of Consumer Technology
Most software developers and engineers look forward avidly for the annual Google I/O developer conference. They use it to benchmark where they need to go. In the world of technological innovation, there’s something new coming through every second. What makes Google different is that it is usually several steps ahead of the competition.
Are You Afraid of a Computer or a Robot Replacing You?
Ever since artificial intelligence (AI) which used fuzzy logic became the buzzword in the late nineties, people have been terrified that the day isn’t too far when they will be replaced by a computer or a robot. As long as you possess self-awareness, have a fantastic memory, and can carry several trains of thought in your mind simultaneously without getting it all garbled; you have little to fear. The truth of the situation is that AI has made life much easier for most people in ways they don’t even suspect.
Prompts for Diffident Composers
There are many people who can chatter cheerfully for hours, but begin to fumble if they need to draft a simple email. There’s much to cheer about with the new smart compose in Gmail which was unveiled at the event. Come June you can expect Gmail to not only aid you in completing words; it will offer nifty suggestions on the kinds of phrases you might require. This feature is based on past usage history and is calculated to annoy editors and writers who get driven up the wall by Word’s shoddy grammar. For the timid users, and those whose command over the language might not be strong, it will be a godsend.
Add a Touch of Color to Your Memories
If you use Google Photos, there’s much to excite you. Bring out your old, dusty photos, and let Google Photos do the rest. From touching up fading memories to restoring classic moments, it has a feature to warm your heart. The latest features will enable you to add color to the vintage black and white pictures incredible colors. It will also offer suggestions on lighting and rotation.
Conversations in Your Own Language
Users who get vexed because Google Assistant can’t understand their pronunciation (especially those who speak in received pronunciation [RP] or in a heavy regional accent) now have something to cheer about. By the end of 2018, you should be able to converse with it in any of 30 languages! What’s more, it will speak in six different voices. Google expects its Assistant will have mastered intonations, accents, and languages to be able to guide and entertain you. However, don’t expect it to tell you jokes in your regional language just yet.
Carrying on the Conversation — And Teaching Courtesy Too!
One of its more user-friendly features will be that once you have woken up the Assistant, it will carry on the conversation without having to go “Hey Google!” every time you need some additional help. It has a new feature which hassled parents will simply love: it will offer reinforcements everytime kids say “please” to teach them the value of politeness. You will need to wait for a few weeks for these features to become operational.
Let Google Assistant Pamper You Some Day
The audience was simply blown away as the Google Assistant actually carried out an intelligent conversation to book a salon appointment. However, this Google Duplex won’t be available to users in a great hurry. The primary purpose, however, is to enable businesses to function better by connecting them to customers. While a preliminary version will be rolled out before autumn; there will be a significant preparation time required to synchronize the findings from this rollout, and incorporate business timings to make the feature functional. This breakthrough will probably stimulate more work in machine learning in the foreseeable future.
New User Interface
Expect a total overhaul in the manner in which your visual interface with Google Assistant works. Soon, it should be able to show you at a glance what needs to be done that day, what has been done and will offer prompts on switching off to enable you to connect with family and friends face-to-face. For Android users, it should be available this summer. iOS users might need to wait a little longer. However, what has rolled out is the new Android P beta version.
Its navigation has been simplified to ensure that technology doesn’t overwhelm you. This version has several exciting new features which display at a glance how your day was spent; puts your phone on a Do Not Disturb mode when you put it face down; and winds down the display to grayscale when you use your phone in bed.
Stay on Top of Happenings Around the World
The Google News section has got a major upgrade. So, you can take in the top news at a glance, catch up on local news, and get detailed reports of anything you might desire to know. It has already rolled out on the web, iOS, and Android.
Locate Faster, and More Accurately
The updates to Google Maps will enable you to locate places better, and more accurately. It is expected that the Google Vision will generate a sense of reality by using the camera of the Google Maps’ Street View. For drivers who have found themselves in narrow by-lanes which are not easily negotiated simply because they were following Google Maps; this would be a major relief.
