Google self-driving car

Introduction:

This essay is about a self-driving car made by Google.(1) The project is currently being led by Google engineer Sebastian Thurn. Thrun’s team, which consists of 15 other engineers working for google, created the robotic vehicle which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The prize was 2 million US dollars.

Main points:

·          The US state of Nevada passed a law in june 2011 permitting the operation of driverless cars in Nevada and California.

·         Google has tested several vehicles, including Toyota Prius, Audi TT and Lexus RX450h, equipped with the system, driving 1000 miles without any human intervention.

·         The vehicle drives at the speed limit it has stored on its maps and maintains distance from other vehicles using sensors. The vehicle provides an override that allows a human driver to take control of the car.

·         There have been two accidents since the vehicle has been licensed on the roads. In August 2011, a human was controlling the vehicle at the time of the accident and the other incident involved a driverless car being rear-ended while stopped at a set of traffic lights.

·         (1)Googles driverless test cars have about $150,000 in equipment including a $70,000 laser radar system, which is mounted to the roof of the vehicle.

                        

Problems it solves:

·       (2)Fewer traffic collisions.

·       Reduction of physical road signage, as the vehicle has all the data saved.

·       Improved fuel efficiency

·       (2)Elimination of redundant passengers-drivers will not have to be present in the vehicle, the vehicle will act like a taxi.

Paradigm:

·         Robot Drivers- react faster than human drivers and do not get distracted, sleepy or intoxicated, they will also also save lives.

·         Intercoms- alert the driver of crossroads and pedastian crossings

·         Speed limit- the vehicle will obey the speed limit unlike human drivers.

Conclusion:

This essay was about three technologies that will change society in the future. I chose the Google Self-Driving Car for the technology that will change society in the future.

References:

The third reference is a short clip on youtube of a golf caddy which is self-driven.

·         1).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_driverless_car

·         2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car

·         3). http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rOWhu_aa9kM

By Mylvio Mendes

Introduction:

The Google’s clandestine Google X Lab, a branch of the company that focuses on futuristic projects, has released one of its concepts that might be going to change completely the way people work, live and communicate [1]. Not far from the future shown in movies like Star Wars, the Google Project Glass is just the flag of what is coming about Artificial-intelligence Software.

 

The Project:

The new concept, called Google’s Project Glass, is an augmented-reality glasses that seems to bring the web, location services and social media straight to your eyeballs, with nothing in between [2]. In few words, it could be described as a multimedia, networked, wearable computer and personal assistant technology [4].

How it works:
The Project Glass is operated by voice commands, what makes the connection between user’s and internet and multimedia facilities faster [3]. Other benefits would be the reduction of barriers between the web and the real world, as the user at a point of view could combine both images at the same second. The small screen on the glasses flashes information straight way above the right eye, allowing the user to set up meetings with friends, get directions, find a book in a store and even video-conference with friends [1].

New Paradigm:

The project is based on a new paradigm. In the race for the better technology, when the market focuses on internet connectivity speed (3G, 4G), numbers of point in the screen (2 points, 5 points, multipoint), make the devices easy to handle, with or without keyboard and even size of the screen, Google’s goggles are focused  in Artificial-intelligence Connectivity, communication without touch, wearable computers (hands-free), voice commands, one eye screen projection integrated with what the user can see at the same time.

Conclusion:

This project has everything to achieve its goals in term of technology. Although some people as rejection on the idea that everybody could have the same device on top of their eyes, but, like or not it is coming and is going to change the way the society connects with the internet. Its benefits, such as faster connection, faster use of multimedia and faster way to make calls, will be enjoyable explored by developers. And it is just the beginning of the Artificial-intelligence Software presence in the society.

References:

[1] Taking Google Glasses in Context, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelisrael/2012/07/06/taking-google-glasses-in-context/

[2] Google’s Augmented Reality Concept Video, IEEE Spectrum, http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/portable-devices/googles-augmented-reality-concept-video

[3] Google’s Project Glass: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, CNET, http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57410443-76/googles-project-glass-you-aint-seen-nothin-yet/

[4] Google begins testing ‘Terminator’-style smartphone glasses, Foxnews.com, http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/04/04/google-begins-testing-terminator-style-smartphone-glasses/

By Innocent Matthew

If people enjoy the use of webcams and Skype, then they would enjoy the more advanced way to interact with other people. This is where the Beam remote system comes in. Granted it’s expensive, but one can imagine being in one place, yet their presence is felt anywhere in the world, in just a click of a button, or in this case a remote.

 What is The Beam Remote System?

The Beam is a new technology that has arrived in the market and is possibly a technology that will change the society. It is basically a form of video conferencing chat, except it is more advanced in a sense that it is controlled by a remote and moves wherever you tell it to. It’s basically like working at homes, except the beam makes you feel like you’re in an office. Research has shown that “it only takes about 20 minutes on average before a person forget they’re interacting someone via Beam and begins to take for granted that they are simply having a conversation with a colleague” [2].

How it works and what problems with will solve

The Beam dock

Beam is like a virtual car, it has a beam Dock that allows the beam to be parked while it recharges for the next day.  Already that’s a problem solved, as people won’t really have to use your car as much to drive to work and thus using less fuel and conserving global warming. Another problem it solves missing scheduled meetings, maybe due to a time clash or distance. In this case the beam is said to “let people be in two places at the same time- literally” [2].

The Beam Pilot Software client: This is responsible for connecting with the owner/company’s Beam remote devices anywhere in the world [1]

Impact of the beam remote in the society

The beam will only create convenience for everyone that owns it. As technology continues to advance, it is very likely that the workplace will have these types of gadgets while everyone works at home. As seen on the video http://youtu.be/z23UeJi_uJ4 [4], the use of multi-tasking, that is being in more than two places at once, is just the technology that is needed in the future.

Reference

[1] How Beam works, 11/12/2012 - https://www.suitabletech.com/beam/   

[2] Announcing suitable technologies beam remote presence system-11/12/2012-http://www.willowgarage.com/blog/2012/09/25/announcing-suitable-technologies-beam-remote-presence-system

[3] Suitable Technologies introduces beam remote presence system, 11/12/2012-http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/home-robots/suitable-technologies-introduces-beam-remote-presence-system

[4] Beam remote presence from suitable technologies, 11/12/2012-http://youtu.be/z23UeJi_uJ4