For those of you who don't know, Google actually has a top secret lab called Google X, hidden deep in the deserts in Nevada. Some of Google's strangest developments have come from there, including Google Glass and recently the smart contact lens that can help diabetics. But what are Google cooking up in there right now? Project Loon Google makes most of it's money from online advertising, so I course the more people online, the more money Google makes. But many people in the world don't have access to internet, and the cost of setting up broadband in those areas would be enormous. But Google has the solution with Project Loon, where they plan to launch hundreds of giant balloons into the air above these remote areas and beam down Wi-Fi for free. This project could connect up to a billion more people to the internet, and that would mean a lot more money for Google. Space Elevators A lift all the way up to space. The idea is that a large satellite will orbit Earth at the same speed Earth rotates so that it's always above the same point. Then they would build a giant tower from carbon nanotubes connecting the satellite to the ground, and then they could easily power up people and supplies without the need for a rocket. And of course there's potential to sell tickets up to space to the public. It would save NASA a fortune (since rockets and rocket fuel is really expensive). Electronic Tattoo Yes, Google are taking the idea of wearable technology to the next level with a tiny bendable chip that can be stuck to your arm or even your neck. It's only a temporary tattoo and is removable, so you don't need to worry about getting an actual tattoo. The idea of the tattoo is it connects to your phone so you can make and answer calls without getting your phone out of your pocket or talking into a smartwatch. This is certainly one of the weirder Google X intentions, but could prove useful. Self Driving Car I think we all know about this one, which Google has been testing for years. But with the recent announcement of the Open Automotive Alliance, it seems Google are increasing their efforts to take over the car industry, particularly with getting Android in cars. Many other companies are also developing a car that could drive itself, most notably Mercedes, but Google were amongst the first to get started. The idea is obviously to improve safety and possibly reduce traffic, whilst the passengers are free to get on with work. If Google gets their way then all the cars would drive themselves and the passengers would be free to use the Android systems built into the cars and browse the internet, which brings in more money for Google as people spend more time online. Android@Home A few years ago, Google announced Android@Home, their initiative to bring Android to basically everything in your house and create the Internet of Things. However, it never really took off, so Android@Home was taken out of public view and handed over to the engineers at X Labs to develop. Now, as I'm sure you're aware, Google has recently bought Nest, so it seems they're ready to bring it back. The idea is that with everything from your TV to your oven to your thermometer and even your lightbulbs connected to the internet via Android, your entire home can be controlled from one spot through your phone, or you could even have the entire system automated. A Smart Computer We keep throwing that side around when it comes to technology. Smart. Smartphones, Smart TVs, Smartwatches, the list goes on and on. But can a computer ever really be smart? Can we make a computer that thinks for itself? This is the ultimate project in the secret labs of Google X. They built a small supercomputer, and now all it ever does is browse the internet and watch YouTube videos. Sounds a bit like what most people do now, doesn't it? But the Google X brain isn't just slacking off. It's using the internet to learn. It is a computer that learns, and the more it learns the smarter it gets and, in theory, the more human it gets. The technology used by Google's computer brain is already being put to use in products like Google Now, and the Google Keyboard on Android. They learn from what you do with your phone, what you search for, what you type, and the more they learn, the smarter they get.
2 Comments
1/19/2014 04:02:46 am
Unfortunately, I don't think anyone outside Google X knows that at the moment. But I guess if anyone can develop technology to that level of intelligence, Google can.
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