Have you heard of Google X? It’s a secret lab located right next to Google’s headquarters, where a dedicated team of scientists and entrepreneurs strive to make amazing advances in technology that you might mistake for science fiction.
Either way, this is hope. The reality is that while Google employees are among the most brilliant in the field, they are still people. We won’t be seeing interstellar spaceships or time travel machines anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean their discoveries aren’t impressive. They definitely are.
Here are a few Google projects that will change the way you live over the next few years.
Delivery of parcels on demand
Drones are at the forefront of modern technology. They are so versatile and effective that they are going to transform several industries around the world. One of the most practical applications of a drone, at least on an individual level, is the ability to deliver packages on demand.
Instead of waiting on cargo planes and rovers, what if one drone could fetch an item from a local warehouse and drop it right at your doorstep? You may have heard that Amazon is developing such a delivery system with its Prime Air project. but did you know that Google is also looking into it?
It is called Project Wing and looks amazing. Before suggesting that Google is copying Amazon, note that Project Wing was conceived and began development at least a year before the Prime Air debuted. If anything, it shows that drone-based deliveries could soon become a reality.
Full-scale testing of the project is currently taking place in Australia. It works like this. Drones stay in the air all the time and never fall due to the possibility of compromising the safety of the civilian population. Instead, the packs are lowered by a tether that releases the pack as soon as it hits the ground. After release, the tether is removed and the drone returns home.
The goal is to make a delivery around the city within 1 or 2 minutes.
Modular hardware for smartphones
One of the great things about a PC is that the hardware components are interchangeable. If your hard drive, flash drive, or graphics card is malfunctioning or not working, you can always replace it with something else. Unfortunately, this does not apply to smartphones, but this may soon change thanks to Google.
Take part in project Ara whose goal is the production of modular smartphones. that are accessible and accessible to everyday people.
Modular design is what you can expect. The phone itself is just a structural frame, also known as an endoskeleton, made up of multiple modules that can be plugged in and out at will. When updates are released, you won’t need to purchase a brand new phone — just replace the outdated module and you’ll be fine.
The first Project Ara device to sell will debut in the first quarter of 2015, Time reports. The cheapest model, called the «greyphone», would be a barebone device with an estimated price of $50.
self-propelled car
If you haven’t heard about a car without a Google driver. a treat awaits you. This exciting technology, when ready, will be a general improvement for society as a whole, but will also provide you with noticeable benefits on a personal level, with the most important point being that people don’t make safe drivers.
We are prone to mistakes, errors in judgment, emotional instability, substance deterioration, and a host of other obstacles that can interfere with proper driving procedure. On the other hand, self-driving cars do not fall asleep, cannot be distracted, follow the rules of the road, and react almost instantly.
Autonomous cars are also good for the environment. useful Imagine a near future where self-driving cars have become the majority of vehicles on the road. Imagine if all these cars were networked so they could report, eventually «packs» are formed, where each car is in perfect condition with every other car. In other words, optimal navigation.
No more wasting gas by going in circles when you get lost. No more traffic jams due to tires or traffic patterns. As the frequency of accidents decreases, cars can be made from lighter materials that are more economical and cheaper to manufacture. Combine this with advances in electric motors and you have a recipe for success.
We are still at least a few years away from this scenario being feasible, but the possibility is within sight. All we have to do is overcome the technological and legal challenges. which is currently on the way.
A revolution in healthcare
Google isn’t afraid to spread its ideas in areas that don’t really have a direct connection to gadgets, advertising, or the internet. Last year they announced the creation of a new company called calico, engaged in research and development in the field of biotechnology.
Calico has big dreams. When the company was first announced, it created a lot of buzz around their lofty intent to cure death itself. Kaliko has been somewhat more grounded since that first statement; at the moment they are mainly focused on partnering with Big Pharma to produce new cancer drugs Alzheimer’s disease and much more.
Google influences healthcare in other ways as well. Do you remember Google Glass ? It may not have performed well with consumers, but there is at least one profession where Google Glass shows a lot of promise: doctors.
SAP SE, a German software development corporation, has developed an application that can connect Google Glass to a hospital’s information system, allowing doctors to view a patient’s medical history as needed. Observations made while wearing glasses can also be saved to the system.
The main benefits are that Google Glass is hands-free, portable, and voice-enabled—qualities that are important for busy doctors.
