Google Technologies
Glass
Google Glass is an electronic eye wear device that essentially is the ability to access Google and updates from your smartphone device through the computerized frames. While currently still in the stages of development and beta testing, Google Glass has already started making an impact on the development of new technologies and the way in which we are able to see things through another person’s eyes. When linked with a persons smartphone device, Glass enables one to send and receive text messages displaying the message in a small visual to the user; Glass also provides the sync ability to make calls, take photos, record videos, and provide navigation. As Glass is still within it’s beta testing and development stages the applications associated and current features are limited, but the possibilities for this device seem to be the main focus of Google and it’s developers before introducing Glass to the public consumer. Currently Glass has been making headlines, as Google reaches out to promote this new technology providing testers to Police Officers in New York, and to NBA teams, the purpose to help provide a wider means for the technology in development. (Stein, 2014)
When considering Glass, and the association of the Police or Emergency response teams one can consider the positive impacts Glass can provide such as development of applications compatible with the device to pull up a persons driver’s information, vehicle reports, background information providing a police officer with detailed information before engaging with an unknown driver, or persons. Positive impacts in the field of Emergency response systems include being able to pull up ones medical information and records, record vitals, and valuable information in the case of an emergency such as on the scene of an accident or a 911 response. Entertainment benefits through which Google seems to be pursuing such as beta testing with an NBA team allows for players to record and stream what they are seeing first hand on the courts and during a game. This sense of first person provides a fan or a viewer with the ability to watch a basketball game as if they were the player themselves, ultimately changing the way in which we are able to view entertainment. Glass in a sense although still within development seems to be the means to provide people with the ability to share experiences first hand as though they themselves were doing it. With the ease of use and accessibility Glass provides a means that is completely hands free, when considering the limitations of many with disabilities this is a product that only requires one’s sight and voice to bring a whole world in front of you. The downside of this technology is however; with society as obsessed with technologies as it is, what will be the regulations of this device to maintain safety? The dilemma is truly that of states, and local governments regulating and restricting the use of Glass when walking across the street, and as an navigational tool how will this affect a person from being an interference when driving when it blocks the line of sight? Various important impacts that can have negative affects include that of how does Google plan to support user privacy and security? The biggest obstacles Glass is going to face when entering the public consumer market will be safety, privacy, and security.
Self-guided Car
Google’s Self-guided car has been a project in the making spanning more than last five years; the hope is to create an autonomous car that has the ability to drive without human interference. Currently Google has been in the testing process modifying and updating everyday vehicles as prototypes for the self-guided vehicle for the future. The technology associated with this autonomous car includes the implementation of artificial-intelligence software into the interface of the vehicles systems. This software coupled with a designated human driver for interference should intervention be required, along with navigation system, and sensors throughout the outside of the vehicle to monitor surroundings and controls. (Naughton, 2012) Although a project made for the public in the distant future Google is banking on the autonomous car, but more so; the technology associated with the vehicle including the rotational navigational technology attached to the roof of each vehicle that scans and creates detailed mapping and navigation based on the data it collects from the environment it scans. However, Google still has a long way to go before their autonomous vehicle and software will be ready for public or private use outside of Google’s testing realms. The legality is still debated, and the need for human interface with the vehicle is still under observation when the artificial intelligence software and sensors are unable to predict when something may occur, such as another vehicle running a red light or a pedestrian not following a cross walk.
When considering the social impact of Google’s Self-guided car the biggest impact would be providing those with disabilities, the ability to have independence in mobility. A Self-guided car could provide those with various disabilities for whom cannot otherwise drive, the ability to be less restricted in where they can go, having to rely less on purchasing, or scheduling transportation services, or having to rely on that of a family member or friend. This is a major social impact on the disabled community, and gives many an ability of “freedom” back, while providing those whom have never had the opportunity to drive, drive.
Another positive impact can be that of eliminating or even limiting the number of car accidents due to distracted, careless, or drunk drivers, and fatalities associated with vehicle accidents providing the sensors are developed enough to consider the occurrence of a collision. Foremost the self-guided car provides no excuse for drunk driving anymore, creating a safer road for those who choose poor decision making when getting behind the wheel drunk. The self-guided vehicle creates a means for societal safety on the road providing a means of an artificial intelligence system made to be a careful and considerate driver, following speed limits with the ability to accelerate only a little over the limit. This also creates a solution for when a human driver may become temporarily distracted which could cause an accident within that second, or help a tiered driver who may fall asleep at the wheel.
The negative impact however, creates depletion for the need of some transportation services, creating job losses should people be more inclined to now purchase a self-guided vehicle rather than use a service. Other negative impacts include artificial response failure if the person at the wheel does not react within an efficient amount of time an accident can occur. What will be the series of actions one must take to shift the car in manual? How long does this response time take? One major consideration will be that of federal and state laws regarding driving, and the liability of the person behind the wheel verses the manufacture of the vehicle or artificial intelligence software in the vehicle. These are questions that would require answers before the implementation of the vehicle creating new laws and regulations for society to adhere to should the vehicle become a public consumer product.
Android Wear Android Wear is Google’s next attempt at beating Apple in the race for the latest and greatest releases of technology. This is through the means of taking Google’s Android operating system and altering the system to be compatible with wearable devices such as watches. Android Wear is essentially a smart watch, similar to Google’s Glass project without the ability to record video, and take photos. Android Wear is still limited in the technology and featured abilities in comparison to Glass, while still within the developer preview stage. (Stein, 2014)
The limitability seems to be something Google is intentionally considering as Android Wear could ultimately have less complications regarding privacy as the system does not currently support the ability to take to photos, or record video, removing the issue of privacy and security such as with their Glass project. Ultimately the technology associated with Android Wear is limited and still under product while Google releases teasers of what Android Wear could be capable of. The difficulty will be within the voice commands the clarity of recognizing what one is trying to say. Applications associated with the device are limited mainly to only that of the simplified Google provided talk and text, navigation, notifications and searches, the interaction ability of the Android Wear relies mainly on that of voice commands and touch.
The negative impacts that Android Wear could have would be within regards to privacy should one’s device be lost or stolen. Google has been very limited on the information they are sharing other than features and what Android Wear can be capable of. Negatively one would consider that although the device isn’t in full capacity of privacy policies of companies, restaurants, bars, and various other places that Glass is having to work with, but still needing to consider the privacy and security of should the device be lost how secure is ones personal information recorded on the device?
Positive considerations of the Android Wear would include that of being able to create applications to help track fitness, and monitor one’s vitals through the wrist. This can be great to check pulse and heart rates, and can track information regarding ones personal condition in general or during fitness to ensure a personals vitals are within the range it should be or setting an alert for the person if they are not. Another positive feature can be that of being able to call for help should something occur without have to be fully functional in the terms of movement should an accident or incident occur coupled with the navigation feature provides emergency services with the information and location needed to help a person.
With the limited information provided by Google regarding Android Wear and it’s full capabilities the determination of societal impact at the time balances between the negative and positive.
NEST
NEST or Nest Labs, is Google’s latest acquisition into the field of smart technology devices. Nest Labs, is the creator of the smart thermostat and smoke detectors for the home. The Nest thermostat being one of the focal points of Goggles purchase of Nest Labs, as the smart technology integrated within the thermostat creates the ability for the thermostat to learn the behavior and preference of the user such as the ability to sense when no one is home. This sensor enables an auto shut off to save on energy and maintain preferred home temperatures avoiding heating or cooling an empty home. The technology also integrated into the smart thermostat includes learning the preferences of the user through tracking changes in temperature and how the user adjust to create a preferred climate within the home. Other features include a leaf feature that once a user adjust to an energy saving temperature a leaf appears to notify the user that the temperature selected is energy efficient. The main feature of the smart thermostat is the auto-schedule in which a user can create a climate controlled schedule for certain temperatures or times of the day such as changing to a cooler temperature should the user sleep better in a cooler climate. The auto-schedule eventually learns the temperature behavior and preferences of the user to create a personalized schedule with the continued ability to adapt to the changes in preference by the user. More interesting enough, the smart thermostat has the integrated technology to wirelessly and remotely control the temperature and settings of the thermostat from your smartphone, table, or laptop, on top of which it also tracks your energy usage and can provide a detailed report of your energy use history allowing you track your usage and adjust to create a comfortable and energy efficient climate within your home. (Nest Labs, 2014)
In terms negative the concern is within the data tracking the Nest Thermostat gathers in terms of energy usage, this is data that many electrical companies would want to get a hold of. One also considers that the use of all these smart home devices such as the thermostat and smoke-detector (among the many others Google has not obtained) could create an increase in the price of electricity as consumers become more dependent on smart home devices. This also creates the means of could the price of electricity increase when energy efficient devices are causing a decrease in user usage?
The positive at the same time is creating a more energy efficient society focusing more on conserving our energy sources by being able to adjust ones home settings when away as to not cool or heat an empty home. Another positive is being able to track how much energy one uses, ultimately creating the ability for one adjust energy usage to fit one’s budgeting needs.
Robots
Although not a lot of information is provided regarding Google’s entrance into humanoid robotics the company has begun to acquire several robotics companies and research developers. Google’s acquisitions have aided in several robotics challenges the company has entered including one centered on creating a humanoid robot to handle disaster scenarios. The robot created for the disaster scenario would be able to navigate through various forms of debris helping to clear way to rescue victims of disaster, shut off valves to prevent further damage such as water to homes, and opening doors enabling the humanoid robot to enter a potentially dangerous situation before sending in a rescue team or police force such as with bomb threats. The technology associated with Google’s entrance into the field of humanoid robotics is still limited within public knowledge. (Shankland, 2014) There are many ways in which humanoid robots can be beneficial towards society especially in terms of disasters and disaster relief. Positive considerations include less risk to human life in terms of disasters such as being able to look for victims in a fire, or after a disaster have struck an area such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Creating less of a risk to human life of response teams by having a robot survey an area before response teams enter to ensure the safety of victims and response units going in. More considerations include being able to help survey areas response teams cannot gain access to, to help find victims, and hopefully determine if there is injury or if there is still life present in an area. An otherwise grey area would be entering humanoid robots within the military field, while they would otherwise conserve human life and causalities the ethical issue remains as to how far the abilities will reach of such robotics? A negative impact could be that of job losses as the need for professionals within the response and armed forces teams could deplete with the replacement of robots. Although a positive in a response to saving human life from becoming a causality humanoid robots could ultimately replace the need for humans within certain fields of employment although Google is not looking towards entering into the field of military development in the near future. The ethical issue becomes as too how real is too real for robotics, especially within the terms of human likeness and abilities of adaptation.

Reference(s)
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