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| Earth Harp at Google IO - 2016 |
Hi Mom,
I did something outside of my comfort zone today. I attended the Google IO Extended Conference in Grand Rapids yesterday. I had never attended a tech event of this type before. I went with my good friend Colin MacCreery. We hobnobbed with tech people. We met some cool folks. We attended seminars on techie topics. But after lunch, we enjoyed time in the main ballroom -- a huge space with tables for people who wanted to use their laptops -- watching the live stream of the Google IO keynote broadcast from Mountain View, California.
I am including the video of it here from YOU TUBE (a Google product), but beware. It's long, and my system resources max out when I run it as my computer is trying to buffer the entire video, apparently, a two hour thing. But the beginning with the Earth Harp music is beautiful and well worth some time with your CPU maxed to 100% (and I have 8 gig of RAM and a dual core 2.6 gHz processor). It's amazing that as soon as I pause the video, system resource return to normal parameters.
Still, I had never watched the Google IO keynote before, let alone doing so in a room full of techies, as I multi-tasked with my computer, taking notes right in this blog entry, and searchign relevant web sites while watching a live blog stream from WIRED and the #GoogleIO2016 hashtag Twitter feed.
This was a super fun way to experience the keynote as well as how much I learned by exploring Twitter messages or comments via Wired's live blog. There were funny messages, such as the one below, suggesting a Google IP drinking game. Or as Google asks for help in naming its new version of Android, known now as N, one guy suggested: "Null-Pointer Exception," which is very funny if you know coding, and it's now a joke I get!
So, here's the video (BEWARE the CPU load) followed by my rewritten notes (not the raw notes but an attempt to make sense of the notes) followed by some more pictures and recaps of the seminars I witnessed at the GR extended Google thing.
Another thing with the video, check out the 360 tool in the upper left corner of the video display. You can rotate the display 360 degrees. It's amazing.
12 minutes and 30 some seconds of Earth Harp followed by a multi-video screen Google show with electronic House type music.
As for stats shared, 7000 people attending live and 530 external events all over the world. Google CEO Sundar Pichai starts off the keynote address.
Actually, the video above is going to stay at the back of the pavillon for the entire live stream. This video below goes in closer and is less of a CPU burden.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai started the keynote with an overview of Google work and success since last year's IO event. "We're helping people get things done in the real world." he said, and spoke about Google organizing all the data we share with it via our Google accounts, such as Google grouping all photos depicting hugs or all videos showing dogs.
In terms of language usage and real time visual translation: "Every day, Google translates more than 143 billion words for its users." WOW. That is straight-up insane.Sundar discussed Google's machine learning and AI functions and the importance and ubiquitous use of the Google Assistant. Ultimately, the progression of Google Assistance is for each user to have his or her own individual Google, which is more of an established reality than ever before, now, in early 2016.
Working with the Google Assistant means engaging in a conversation with Google to help users get things done in their own personal contexts. "Every single conversation is different; every single context is different. We are trying to help with billions of these conversations every day," Sundar said.
25 million ChromeCast devices sold!
Sundar turned over the floor to Mario Queiroz to talk about Google Home -- a device to be released later this year. We can manage music and entertainment, manage daily tasks, ask Google anything and have conversations with Google in our home via the Google Home devices.
But one thing that may disturb some people is that Google Home is always listening, waiting for us to engage the Google Assitant by simply saying "Hey, Google" or "Okay, Google."
Next, Sundar introduces Erik Kay to discuss other uses with photos and some new apps with massaging and video.
One emphasis for Google is a core use cases on mobile with photos. Announced Google Photo last year. Over two trillion labels applied by Google’s computer vision system. Google wants to "combine the power of mobile with advancements in machine learning" for communications.
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| Rebecca talking about the Google Assistant |
Erik described three key features of Allo - expression, use of the Google Assistant, and security/privacy.
With new expression tools, Google has added features to shout and whisper replies. Slider the size button changes the size of the response. You can put ink on photos. Smart replies offer suggestions for responses, especially for responses to photos. And Allo learns over time and will suggest the kinds of replies you use most often. Google can recognize details in the photo and smart reply will offer suggestions because Google can identify clams and linguine in the photo shared to suggest food choices.
With Google Assistant built right into Allo, you can access built in Google Searches. Using the Open Table built in, Google will suggest restaurants and make reservation right from chat.
New security options, such as Incognito mode in Allo: discrete notifications and message expiration.
But then, Erik adds that "we anticipate adding more privacy and security features over time.." which suggests that there's no more security features for now.
Erik talks about video calling and Duo, the new one-to-one video calling app for everyone, packaged with Allo -- works on Android and iOs. It contains the Knock Knock feature, which provides a live preview of what the caller is up to when he or she calls. When you answer, the video will continue seamlessly. Google's video promo shows us that people will perform for the DUO preview Knock Knock. Both Allo and Duo will be available this summer.
Dave Burke is introduced to discuss Android. Android is the most popular OS in the world. The
new version of Android known as "n" will provide performance, productivity, and security.
Performance via Vulkan will feature improved runtime and app will install much faster. Security features have been improved. Google Play performs security testing on all apps. There's also improvements to improve productivity with an emphasis on how people multitask. There's a
clear all button. The most recent apps screen will prioritize, and there's a quick switch feature.
There's also a multi-window set up. Changes to notifications will allow users to respond to a message notification without launching the associated app. Android N is the best Android yet.
Google continues to work on its VR platform, and this year it releases DAYDREAM, a high quality mobile virtual reality app. With VR Mode in Android N, the user needs a headset and a controller.
Users can step inside movies and games; they can step inside photos and You Tube videos. Also, there will be a VR version of Google Street View and users can walk the streets of the world in an immersive environment.
Those were just some of the new products and their features that we learned about in the Google IO keynote. The GR Extended group had to cut short the stream because of other events in GR, but first we heard some more about Google wearables: Android Wear 2.0, a new watch. Then there were Google developer products: FROM WIRED: "Buckle up folks, this is going to get pretty dev-focused (because this is a dev conference)." And the local group cut the broadcast at a discussion of Android Studio 2.2 and a new Firebase for app developers.
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So that's part one of my description. As I got into working on this entry, I decided to divide it into two parts. I will discuss the local extended Google IO stuff tomorrow.
Reflect and connect.
Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you.
Talk to you tomorrow, Mom.
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- Days ago = 320 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1605.20 - 10:10
NOTE on time: When I post late, I had been posting at 7:10 a.m. because Google is on Pacific Time, and so this is really 10:10 EDT. However, it still shows up on the blog in Pacific time. So, I am going to start posting at 10:10 a.m. Pacific time, intending this to be 10:10 Eastern time. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom. But I am not going back and changing all the 7:10 a.m. times. But I will run this note for a while. Mom, you know that I am posting at 10:10 a.m. often because this is the time of your death.
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