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Ivan Petkov

Just a day before the Google I/O developer conference Bloomberg made ​​a short ranking of the most futuristic projects of the internet giant. The ranking is indicative of the direction that one of the richest and most influential contemporary technology companies is planning to take.

Nest ranks fifth

In 2013, Google acquired Nest for $3.2 billion, which is twofold the amount paid by it for YouTube. Dropcam company joined the Nest project for the "modest" amount of just $555 million. Dropcam is specialized in the production of home-monitoring cameras that you can check via your smartphone wherever you are. Nest in turn sells digital thermostats and smoke detectors, which can be checked and controlled remotely via mobile devices. Google is seeking to become a bigger player in the market of connected devices. Its ambition is related to the trend of connecting to the Internet, and controlling via mobile devices, more items that people use in their daily lives.

The fourth position is assigned to the Loon project

The project promises to deliver Internet to everyone in every place, especially in remote areas that are inaccessible to the traditional connectivity modes. The first experimental flight was carried out in New Zealand in 2013. Accounting for the fact that Google’s major and most profitable business relates to the world wide web, this project seems...logical.
 
The bronze goes to Google Glass

Some time ago we informed you about these voice-controlled glasses that introduce users to the so-called "augmented reality." Their mass production lies ahead. The glasses excite avid technology fans, despite their high current price of $1,500. At the I/O conference the glasses looked like an everyday accessory, adorning the faces of many of the attending developers. This project has its opponents and has already attracted the attention of the authorities. The glasses are banned in many public institutions, and private bars, restaurants, cinemas.

The second position is reserved for Boston Dynamics

The company was acquired in 2013 and it produces ... robots. That is right, this is fiction writer Isaac Asimov’s materialized dream or it is about to materialize. The aim of Google is to widely introduce robots in our daily lives. Do you want a pet robot?

The prize goes to Google driverless car

The aim is to create a safe car driven by a digital driver. To avoid accidents and reduce the lives lost due to them combined with the comfort of just enjoying the scenery while travelling - a world without traffic jams and irritation, without fatal human errors. The next phase of the project is a car without a steering wheel and pedals.

I/O 2014 has shown that this is not all! Various departments at Google are working hard to conquer more areas and new territories for the technology developed by the company. During the first day the company presented several projects that are not so futuristic, they are ready to enter the market and can be seen as a link with Google’s glamorous vision for the future.

Android Auto

At present, our cars are full of electronics, have their own computers that take care of the different systems in them. In general, they are not connected to the world wide web. This is about to change. Android Auto is not an independent operating system for automotive multimedia. The program displays on the dashboard images from the smartphone. It duplicates the applications installed on it and allows you to manage them by a sensor surface, joystick or steering wheel buttons. The system can make calls, read and record voice SMS, it can remind you of different things, arrange a Google Maps route, play music and display a variety of applications (e.g. social networks).

40 car manufacturers are participating in the Open Automotive Alliance and cooperating with Google, in order to integrate the project into their models. The first cars with Android Auto will appear at the end of this year or early next year.

Android TV

There has been talk of this platform for years as well as timid attempts for its integration under the name Google TV. Besides the name, the whole concept has been developed and it will try to fight in the "war for the living room." Android TV will deliver movies, videos and games. In addition to the direct integration of the video content in the TV sets, there will also be external decoders. An interesting feature is the addition of voice commands.

Android Wear

We wrote about smart watches too. Google is trying to enter this market by providing its partners with a unified platform to be used not only by watches but also by all wearable devices, including bracelets, rings, etc. As part of the fitness mania that is starting to posses this kind of device, Google has added Google Fit, a new platform designed to enable scattered fitness applications and devices to talk to each other. Google Fit enables fitness equipment and software to share data with each other and Google has already signed agreements with a small army of partners in this area.

Android L

This is the draft name of the next generation mobile operating system, which was presented at I/O 2014. The innovations are numerous and relate to the appearance of the applications and the new design language called "material design". In general, we will see more effects, animations and colours, and natural interaction with the phone screen. Google promises faster and optimized operation of phones that will use Android L, extended battery life due to Volta project and over 500 new developer tools. The final version of Android L will be available in the autumn and during Christmas shopping we will enjoy a sufficient number of tempting smartphones operating with it.

Android One

The company will try to facilitate manufacturers to develop cheap Android phones. These phones are suitable for poor and developing countries and markets, but also for people who do not want to give a solid amount for a smartphone. These devices will have a slot for two SIM cards, FM radio, SD card and a 4.5-inch screen. This type of phone will probably be launched in the autumn and will cost below $100. This price totally justifies the company's plans to provide affordable phones to the rest of the population.

We see that Google is putting a lot of effort into imposing its vision for the future that we outlined in the beginning of this article. From innovative futuristic projects to devices that we have used for years and that have been redefined in terms of smart technology, Google is creating a network of technological devices that will change our daily lives.