With the world of global corporations being dominated by companies at least half a century old, it also beats logic that an 18-year-old company is one of the most powerful one amongst them. Yet Google Inc. has continually beaten the odds to continue being among the largest corporations in the world in spite of its apparent nascence (King, 2014). Yet, the changes already made pale in significance when juxtaposed with the nature of projects that the company is developing in the contemporary times. Whereas it is a fact that some of this projects may not be practicable and/or ethically acceptable to the world, the future is still set to see Google continue to dominate the computerized innovative world. The instant essay entails and objective analysis of five of the numerous projects that Google is developing and/or improving, each of which is bound to have a major impact in its specific area of operation.
Self-Driving Automobile
Overview of the Device
The Google self-driving automobile as developed by Google’s subsidiary Waymo LLC. Simply defined the self-driving car concept entails the kind of a car that can be driven without any human input either directly or indirectly (Eisenstein, 2017). Currently, vehicles can be driven by a human driver who is either actively inside the car or controlling is using a remote control device. With the self-driving car, there will be no human inference, instead, the car’s computerized system will utilize specialized LiDAR technology to evaluate and analyze its surrounding to as to enable the car to navigate itself. Under the currently developed specification, the car uses a pre-programmed route to reach its destination. LiDAR technology enables it to avoid and evade any and all obstacles on its way as it heads towards its programmed destination (Eisenstein, 2017).
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Implementation Challenges
Automated systems interact with one another excellently, enabling the creation of excellent and flawless yet extremely complex systems. This is based on the capability of computerized systems interacting with one another. The problem comes with when the fluid and sometimes irrational human inference is introduced into the matrix. This is among the chief challenges that Google is facing in the implementation of the instant project. The modern road is generally littered with human inference from fellow drivers in the roads to law enforcement as well as pedestrians (Eisenstein, 2017). Currently, no technology available can enable a self-driving car to react to the irrational driving of a drunk driver sharing the same road. Similarly, LiDAR is incapable of understanding and reacting to a police officer waving the car through or to stop or move. Finally, there are the legal issues since the current laws in the USA only license human beings to drive motor vehicles in traffic. The changing of laws is mainly a political issue which will rope in issues such as ethics, morality, and acceptability (Eisenstein, 2017). This is another major challenge for Google, who have been forced to undertake all their tests off active roads.
How to Overcome the Obstacles
The first and second challenges, kindred to the inability of cars to react to irregular traffic situations due to human inferences can only be cured through the development of fully fledged artificial intelligence. A computer that can be able to drive in traffic must be able to reason not just follow laid down instructions. Based on how far modern technology has gone more so in the development of smartphones, such technological feats can be achieved albeit at a very high cost. The legal aspect of the same can be solved once the ability of the cars to interact with people has been established credibly through active testing. The political, ethical and moral aspects of the same must be approached in a less technical and more informal approach such as campaigns that showcase the benefits of the self-driving car.
Positive and Negative Impacts
It is important to indicate from the get go that when it comes to issues kindred to loss of life, humans are least objective due to the desire for self-preservation. Road transport is among the leading causes of death in the general world as well as within the United States (Bailey, 2014). Yet a majority of this deaths are caused by human error, mainly that of motor vehicle drivers. This is one of the primary reason why having a road transport system that eliminates the need for a driver can be seemed to be such an excellent idea (Bailey, 2014). From an ethical and moral perspective, therefore, having a self-driven can is definitely a positive concept. The automated driving system will, however, consume a lot of energy and higher energy consumption will almost always result in a higher level of pollution. Even if seemingly cleaner energy is used, this will not result in less population as the seemingly cleaner energy has been proven to be higher pollutant due to the final disposal of the massive batteries used therein.
Google Project-wing
Overview of the Device
The Google Project-wing is another of Google’s automated devices project that involves the development of a delivery service using unmanned drones. The basic idea behind the project entails the development of an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (Etherington, 2017). This UAS will be strong enough to carry a luggage and smart enough to deliver the said luggage to a pre-planned destination. Therefore, the UAS will not only engender technology to enable unmanned flight but also the ability to navigate to specified destinations. In the interim, however, Google is seeking to develop the ability of a singular human operator manning multiple drones. Most of the current drone technology entail devices that have remote piloting capabilities but the instant project seeks to simplify the process through the elimination of the human pilot so as to have purely automated drones (Etherington, 2017).
Implementation Challenges
The first major implementation challenge is legal in nature and is based on the air being arguably the most restricted transport area all over the globe. Anything moving in the air can cause great damage to objects on the ground as well as any other objects moving in the air, a good example being commercial air transport. Indeed, the last time Google conducted tests for the instant device, the same had to be undertaken under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Authority and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Etherington, 2017). The same difficulties being noticed in testing and development will only get worse when Google eventually seeks to have the project licensed. The second major challenge lies in the development of the technology that will enable the drones to operate in urban centers in the one hand and under different weather conditions on the other. Urban centers create the challenge of many high rise buildings as well as other moving objects such as helicopters and planes (Mailonline, 2017).
How to Overcome the Obstacles
The legal problem of limited licensing of air transport can be solved through lobbying for the enactment of technology friendly laws. The fact that the introduction of project-wing as a means of delivery will be a major positive impact on the modern world can be a major selling point for the enactment of necessary laws. Provisions such as the need for insurance to cover third party risks can be used to assuage the apprehension standing in the way for the enactment of such laws. The navigation problem that requires navigation under complex circumstances such as within the city can be solved by always retaining an element of human operators (Mailonline, 2017). As drones will not need human inferences all the time, a pool of controllers can be placed in charge of a high number of drones at the same time. The drones can then be designed to signal when they need human inferences thus attracting the attention of someone in the pool of operators.
Positive and Negative Impacts
The fundamental impact of project-wing is towards the environment. Energy consumption has been proven to be directly proportional to environmental degradation. Currently, individuals find themselves having to navigate a two tonne vehicle through traffic so as to collect a half-kilo package. Miniature drones mean that a very small amount of energy will be used to fly packages directly to their destinations (Mailonline, 2017). Secondly, online shopping has become a very common concept. This has, however, created the challenge of how to expeditiously get good bought online to their purchasers. The instant project will positively impact the online sales business. A major adverse impact will be based on the massive loss of labor opportunities for individuals who are involved in delivery services, this happening in times when the world is suffering lack of labor opportunities.
Google Glass
Overview of the Device
With the high usage of computers in general and the internet in particular, manufacturers and innovators are finding it necessary to produce gadgets that allow for as much computer usage as possible during the normal day to day activities. This is one of the contributing factors to the development of the smartphone that provides computer and internet everywhere. Yet having to look at the phone when contemporaneously carrying out other activities such as walking, driving or cooking has become a challenge (Farr & Haselton, 2017). It is this challenge that led to the development of the Google Glass. This is a miniaturized computer whose screen is won on the face, a kin to normal prescription glasses. For command input, Google glasses can be commanded through audio input or through touch. Just as a smart phone, the glasses are connected to several apps such as Google Earth and Google Search through which the user can operate the lenses to reach the desired end (Farr & Haselton, 2017).
Implementation Challenges
The Google glass is relatively simple as compare to many other Google devices as it is not rich in novelty. Most of the technology inculcated into the device is already available for uses such as voice command abilities and miniaturized screens (McGoogan, 2017). The main challenge, however, lies in implementation, a fact that had even led to a discontinuation of production a few years ago. This is based on the ability of the glasses to record events in a multimedia format including audio, video and picture format without the individual being recorded realizing it. This raised massive privacy concerns with the accusation that the glasses were being used for spying on others and recording content that would be later maliciously published (Farr & Haselton, 2017). Therefore, the main challenge facing Google glass lies in the acceptability of the capabilities of the divide among the common populace.
How to Overcome the Obstacles
Privacy is a variable factor to many individuals and the traditional notion and concept of privacy keep on changing based on necessity. For example for the sake of security, modern America is willing to accept massive security based sacrifices that would not have been thought of before including going through x-ray scanners at airports. Instead of making an argument about issues of privacy, Google only needs to advertise the bare necessity and paramount need for the Google glass. The need for the glasses will eventually overcome the desire for privacy, more so when the number of those using the device supersedes that of those who do not.
Positive and Negative Impact
The active use of Google glasses has no active adverse environmental implications. However, as with most computerized devices, its manufacture and disposal do pose an environmental hazard. From a positive perspective, tens of thousands of people die every year because drivers have gotten distracted by their computerized devices such as phones when driving (McGoogan, 2017). If a driver can be able to read a text while still having eyes on the road, this would exponentially reduce the risk. Finally, the proliferation of camera able devices has made photography a very common activity. There is, however, always the challenge of inability to predict when a moment worthy of saving for posterity arises. Google glasses can solve this challenge.
Google Contact Lens
Overview of the Device
The Google contact lens is a device specifically made to continually test and report the blood sugar of the person using them. From a practical perspective, the glass is to be worn on the eye just as any ordinary contact lens (King, 2014). It will, however, have a miniaturized sensor that will gauge the amount of glucose in the tears of the wearer. This assessment is crucial for diabetic patients who require a real time understanding of the amount of glucose in their blood in order to control the disease. Alongside the contact lenses, the device also comes with a hand held the component. It is this component that the lenses communicate using a receptor aerial that is thinner than human hair to avoid discomfort. It is the same hand held a device that remotely provides power for the contact lens. Prototypes of the said lens are already undergoing testing in America with relatively positive results (King, 2014).
Implementation Challenges
The device is facing two major implementation challenges. The first relates to regulation. As the device is meant to assist diabetes patients, it is considered as a medical appliance thus falling under FDA jurisprudence. Any and all FDA approvals require extreme and rigorous evaluation and testing, which mainly takes an exponentially long duration of time (King, 2014). This makes the development of the product extremely tedious and expensive. The second challenge lies in the accuracy of the process itself, more so due to its sensitive implementation. The results of the tests undertaken by the device enable the decision whether to take more sugar or use insulin (Birch, 2017). The wrong decision can cause real harm or even death. Yet some researchers argue that tears may not be the right body fluid to test glucose amounts on, a fact that would invalidate the entire process.
How to Overcome the Obstacles
It would be dangerous to roll out a defective product from an ethical and also business perspective as it would lead to loss of life as well as massive legal liabilities. The solution for the challenges aforementioned therefore lies in the carrying out of proper research to confirm the veracity of the process. With regard to FDA, the only solution to the same is cooperation as well as lobbying to ensure that the process is not inordinately elongated.
Positive and Negative Impact
The impact of this device would be mostly positive in nature. Diabetes has become an extremely common disease with many individuals having to control it for a life time (Birch, 2017). The main challenge lies in understanding exactly how much glucose is available at any moment in time. The contact lenses provide real time information about the amount of blood sugar in the system. This will save many lives and also help diabetic patients live a more comfortable and productive life. Negative impacts would only happen in the device is not properly calibrated as wrong readings could be very dangerous (King, 2014). From an environmental perspective, the impact of the device is negligible.
Project Loon
Overview of the Project
It is rare for the developers of a project to admit that it might actually be based on a crazy idea, yet project loon gets its title from the same. The idea that internet coverage can be provided in 4G capacities across the globe was thought to be crazy or loony in colloquial parlance. Yet, this is the objective that project loon seeks to achieve, hence the name (Larson, 2017). The project entails the use of a balloon to suspend internet service antennas in the stratosphere, as high as 25 kilometers above the earth. Internet users would then use specialized antennas on the ground to access the internet from the said balloons. The said balloons as suspended high in the stratosphere as winds slower and weaker hence providing lower interference (Larson, 2017). Crazy as the idea sounds, Google has been able to roll out the project since 2014 with relative success.
Implementation Challenges
The main challenge faces by Google in the implementation of the project is cost. Whereas using balloons is cheaper than other available option such as cyber-optic cables, it is still extremely expensive to roll out and maintain. Further, Google stands accused by other users of space such as NASA that its devices have been causing radio interferences. Finally, several of Google balloons have caused expensive accidents through falling from the sky as well as when being hoisted and/or lowered (Castillo, 2017).
How to Overcome the Obstacles
Innovation is the cure to high expense and towards this goal, Google needs to invest more in innovation so as to bring down the cost of production, maintenance, and implementation. A good example would be the elimination for the ground antenna so that the balloons can connect directly with the computerized devices. Better preparation and innovativeness can also cure the propensity of accidents which have dogged the project since it commenced.
Positive and Negative Impact
Internet usage has become indispensable in the contemporary world (Castillo, 2017). Yet, laying down the infrastructure for high-speed internet has proven to be a major challenge, more so for communities who may not afford to pay high fees. Yet, companies like Google flourish through the availability of internet connectivity. If the project achieves universal internet coverage across the globe, humanity will be better informed and connected at a cheaper price. Further, Google will save many of its customers from exploitation by local internet providers (Larson, 2017). From an environmental perspective, the impact of the project is positive as it reduces the need for other devices such as land based masts that are higher pollutants.
Three out of the five of the devices outlined herein above entail the replacement of human beings with machines. It is clear that humans are overly resistant to the same, perhaps in a bid to retain material control over different elements in their lives. However, it is clear that in instances where human beings are retained by automated appliances, safety is enhanced making for a positive aspect. However, based on the currently available technology, it seems that human inference is indispensable since artificial intelligence is still a nascent concept. From an overall perspective, however, Google is working towards the refinement of technology to ensure a better tomorrow for all mankind as well as the exponential success for the said company.
References
Bailey, R. (2014). The moral case for self-driving cars. Retrieved from http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/28/the-moral-case-for-self-drivin/print
Birch, J. (2017, May 18). What Happened to the Smart Contact Lens for Diabetics? Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://labiotech.eu/contact-lens-glucose-diabetes/
Castillo, M. (2017, February 16). Google boasts of a big sudden improvement in its plan to connect the world with internet-beaming balloons. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/16/google-x-boasts-big-improvement-in-project-loon.html
Eisenstein, P. A. (2017, April 25). Now You Can Ride in a Google Self-Driving Car. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/now-you-can-ride-google-self-driving-car-n750646
Etherington, D. (2017, June 07). Google’s Project Wing team takes a key step towards making drone delivery real. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/07/googles-project-wing-team-takes-a-key-step-towards-making-drone-delivery-real/
Farr, C., & Haselton, T. (2017, July 18). One of Google's biggest flops returns to the enterprise. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/18/google-glass-new-version.html
King, L. (2014, September 10). Google Smart Contact Lens Focuses On Healthcare Billions. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/leoking/2014/07/15/google-smart-contact-lens-focuses-on-healthcare-billions/#3c3f0a78217f
Larson, S. (2017). Google's Project Loon helps bring the internet to flooded Peru. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/17/technology/project-loon-peru-flooding/index.html
Mailonline, S. B. (2016, November 09). Is Alphabet's 'Project Wing' in trouble? Google's parent company cuts back on staff after axing deal to deliver Starbucks using drones. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3920090/Is-Alphabet-s-Project-Wing-trouble-Google-s-parent-company-cuts-staff-axing-deal-deliver-Starbucks-using-drones.html
McGoogan, C. (2017, July 19). Google brings back much-maligned Google Glass headset. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/07/19/google-brings-back-much-maligned-google-glass-headset/
