Google has been developing many various technologies that can improve human life and make it easier and handy to use. The company has been present in the market a long time and has so far provided many interesting and useful technologies. With the evolving of sophistication of information technologies the more complex systems are being built for individual usage. Almost everyone on this planet in developed world has the access to the internet or the communication tolls that are sometimes needed in the rear to use the google technologies. The research paper will examine five Google technologies implemented or being developed today or in the near future. I will further examined and made an analysis of different Google technologies such as self-driving automobile, home automatization, robots, clean energy and elevator to space. Self-driving automobile has already been used and also in small scale the robots and homo automatization but there are still in the development. On the other hand, as also other companies Google is trying to build the solar plane that would provide access to the internet to the whole world. In the area of clean energy Google is acting in accordance to sustainability with its own platforms of solar-powered turbine engines and heliostats. These technologies can change every life for better or worse. Much development efforts have been given in developing new technologies and products.
Self-Driving Automobile
First analyzed technology is self-driving automobile. It uses the LIDAR laser system, cameras, radars, data fusion and integration into digital maps Street Views which results in the three D data of the roads around the world.
Challenges for Google are still huge in the self-driving cars. In many states and countries, there is no legal foundation for driverless vehicles and no law exists that would handle cases where google cars would be complicit in a car accident (Themsche 2016). If the Google want this technology to be used around the globe the marketing on the positive effects is needed and also the reduction of till today great expenses for implementing this technology that it is not available to everyone. Another ethical questions need to be overcome and security risks that are related to the topic on self-driving cars (Themsche 2016). Google could overcome these obstacles and challenges with pursuing of the development of law on self-driving cars and also to look for cheaper solution of production that the car would be available to a greater number of population.
The Google automated vehicle has driven long distance and has so far not been involved in any car accident (Baily 2014). Wuth the Google car there are no more problems with finding a parking space. The car or a vehicle could be used under every circumstance, even when person is extremely tired. The moving around would be simpler without the need to own driving license. This could reduce the individual costs for acquiring one. The technology has a positive environmental impact because it is an electric auto and thus does not use non-renewable energy. There are no environmental concerns connecting with the development of the technology beside the production of accumulator that use rare earth resources and non-renewable sources for its production. Managers could profoundly benefit from self-driving car platform because it can reduce their costs of transport, and money for drivers’ wages. The managers would have the possibility of accompanying the moving products and even more there would be no more limitation of hours allowed to drive for the drivers. The planning of transportation would be simpler and the way without human delays and failures.
Security concerns have been raised about this Google technology. I believe that with the information provided by Biley (2014) about the number of accidents that occur in our country annually result in higher number of accidents caused as a consequence of human error that with the use of Google technology of self-driving car we can prevent and reduce the numbers of accidents, injured, and deaths. All in all we could also reduce costs that are now going for coverage of accidents that result in GDP openings. Therefore, it would be a moral imperative that in the future we would replace all cars with self-driving cars. With the development of the technology, humans will need to work less and could rely on technology that needs to evolve a bit further to predict many possible circumstances that are unpredictable today in the traffic. The argument why it is now wise to leave all to the robot or computer also lies in the issue that the self-driving car today can only do what was prior programmed and cannot predict every scenario that can happen in the real world. Concerns about safety have been raised, but can be overcome with sharing the information about the car function and with improvement of detective systems and information technology in the area of self-learning systems. The technology has so far not proven to be dangerous or pose a security threat to the people, but the reconfiguration of code represents a huge security risk (Themsche 2016).
Home automation
Home automation by Google will provide energy management, lighting systems, thermostats, window coverings, environmental sensors, door locks, garage door openers, security cameras, entry sensors, theater system. It is a platform based on the high-tech that will make automatization of home and the possibility to watch and remote control. Controllers will be based on remote access, random programs will include touchscreens, wired system and voice control with possibility of help and support for all home automatization.
Challenges that Google could face in implementing this technology will depend on the development of new technologies and also on the concurrence. Huffpost Business (Newlands 2015) had identified 18 companies that are imargining on the market of automatization. Google is working with the Nest Labs and they already lunched the thermostat that was named as one of the best solution in providing energy sufficiency in homes.
Suggestions for overcoming some of the potential challenges and obstacles are working together to evolve and develop new technologies that will be useful for the end users. Google could also try in the marketing since it is the most known name in the world and that can result in more clients since they already trust the company. From just lunch components the best solutions should be provided for the whole home automatization and which company will have the best product will get more customers.
Analysis of potential positive impacts has shown that home automation could be very practical for disabled persons and elderly with activation with voice or remote control. They could stay longer independent with the help of technology. Further on, the technology is not expensive and can provide surveillance in time spend away from home. Various platforms bring convenience and result in spending time from the security area for entertainment and water. All can be modified for individual needs. Another advantage is also you will own the best and the newest technology available. To make the most of the automotive home the usage will also result in energy savings (Blokdijk 2015). Home automation can replace the human hand work and can reduce the monotonous work of every day house works (Lamb 2013). The home automatization can also have a negative impacts. First mentioned in the literature (Lamb 2013) is that technology has limits and cannot predict and do all required tasks. Some concerns are also the economic spending that could in initially stage cost more that hand systems. It is a new technology and can therefore have unpredicted coasts. When something is not working, you probably cannot fix it by yourself and you need a special mainteinance. One of them you need to have functional devices, from smart phones, cameras and all in all they do not work without the electricity. It can also be the disadvantage of a possible break down since you would be left without many functions. There are more vulnerabilities involved of potential dysfunction. Also the security and privacy concerns have been pointed out because the automatization uses smart phones, cameras and other portable devices that can be hacked in (Blokdijk 2015).
The automatization of home has positive impacts on the environment because of the energy savings and can promote new technologies that are more energy sufficient. There were raise some security concerns because of putting your whole home on the internet where potential brakes could happen. Those concerns can be reduced by implementing more security levels into all machines and devices that are incorporated of the home automatization process. Managers could profit from this technology in the private and business sphere. Managers could use energy efficiency and reduce spending; they could easier manage the buildings.
Robots
Google has been involved with robotics for a long time. The company has created its one robotic division in 2013. The goal of the division is to make the robot technology available to the consumers in 14 years. The Google has bought Android platform on which the robots run and also other important companies in the arena of robotics such as Schaft that made humanoid robots, Boston Synamic and Redwood Robotics (D’Onfro 2015).
Challenges Google has in the development of robots are recent leader change in the robotic division, that can be overcome with newly arrived people with high potential and replacing with the people already involved in the division. There is great economic spending, but so far Google has not shown any concerns related to the economy. Challenges can be also found of distrust of the population towards robots. In my opinion to many movies were made in the light that robots will always turn out to be evil and that humans will be jeopardized by their existence. The advantages in marketing should be further promoted.
Implementation of various robots has already been presented from cooking robots, cleaning, taking care of people, especially the elderly, but the challenges still remain, since the robots that could function and interact in real life are software complicated. Google launched a private development in robotics and was one of the first private companies to do so, because the expenses are high. The goal is to create robots to help people and to help in disaster situations. Advantages of robots are automation with increased quality, safety, productivity, efficiency and consistency. They can be involved in the dangerous and hazard environment. Another advantage is theirs accuracy and continuously without human disadvantages such as the need for sleep, boredom, vacations. They have more sensors than a human does (Kutan 2007). There are no environmental impact seen in the development of robotic technology.
On the other hand disadvantages of using and producing this Google technology are lack of development or lack of artificial intelligence with possible inappropriate responses, they need constant power, they can present a threat to the humans and they lack the decision making capabilities. They are limited to the code written (Kuttan 2007). Overall impact on the society with implementing the robots in more areas than just industrial and medicinal one would be severe. They would help people, but on the other hand, because of them many will stay without a job. The security concern is always present when talking about machines or robots. They are not humans and they do not have brains and their own thinking, which can lead to the unpredicted situations in which human could decide but robot cannot.
Managers could profit from the implementation of robots in every area of working. The reduction of workforce with less spending and also there would be no more vacations, breaks and absences since a robot can work through the whole day. The effect can be seen in the industry what changes it brought and advantages of more work efficiency. The managerial profits and advantages seem to be the opposite in some cases as from the society and workers.
Solar-powered internet plane
The next technology examined by Google is planes that get their power from solar. The company goal is to provide the access to internet to all people in the world. That would be achieved with the flying drones that have the ability of staying in the air for a long period of time, without need of refueling and needing much energy that will be provided from solar.
The challenges Google is facing in the concurrence from Facebook, which has already launched its one project as a flying service internet provider. Another challenge was already seen crushing of solar power plane in New Mexico (Wenz, 2015). That was a step backwards in the concepts of the internet for all. Google needs to improve the disadvantages of the plane and follow the stated goals. Many regulations must be made on this area and the area of telecommunication in order for the project to become a reality. Reliable and cost-effective drones must be made by demonstration of good aerial platform.
The majority of the world’s population is still without the access to the internet and Google with its planes wants to improve the internet connectivity around the world. Population and society would profit since in many countries the development in information technology and the provision of internet is not going to come reality in the near future. Developing countries could spare a lot of costs. Google has so far connected with the company named Titan Aerospace which primary tasks are building drones with solar power (Zolofagharifard, 2014). The technology does not have any environmental impacts because it uses the sun to get the energy from. Disadvantages come with privacy concerns. Google has been confronted with issues of collecting data and many have asked them will the drones really just provide the connectivity or is there hidden agenda presented in the background, since the plans are to provide the internet with dorms and planes outside the country (Zolofagharifard, 2014). Ethical and moral challenges have been raised among citizens of the United States and also around the globe but overall there were positive comments. Today in the information society we are ever more concerned about the surveillance and private and collecting vast amounts of information. The concern is big also because of the recent events of the National Security Agency - NSA listening to citizens’ phone calls and overall scandal from 2013. One asks themselves if the governmental actor does something like that, would it be obvious that private companies, would do the same if they saw any profit in it.
Managers all over the world could and would profit if the access to the internet would be available all over the globe. The business and communication would become cheaper for managers that are currently involved in business with companies, organizations or states that does not have the regular communication and financial channels via internet. With the access also the range of potential customers would grow. This Google technology would prove to be very beneficial for different managerial positions. Many challenges from functional and scientific one to the legislator, moral and ethical one need to be resolved.
Clean energy – solar powered turbine engines
Clean energy technology used by Google is the next technology used and being researched by Google. On examination of this technology the focus should not be on a specific project and development, but rather on the whole concepts since can provide better understanding of developing and financing the development of green initiatives, actions and projects. However, Google is developing solar-powered turbine engines and heliostats (Google Green).
Google is trying to become the global actor that uses only green and renewable technologies. Much of the progress still needs to be done and much the company has already achieved. The challenges that lie in front of the company are provision of renewable resources and try to find more efficient ways and promote those resources. The challenges will be seen from major gas and oil companies that would lose money if the earth would stop using the non-renewable resources that are causing further climate change, pollution and unsustainable development.
Positive impacts are seen in the whole society and the world because the company is using clean and renewable energy and has helped with development of various applications and information communication tolls reduce the energy that would otherwise be needed. They are investing in the greener technologies such as SolarCity, Balko Wind Farm, Red Hills Renewable Energy Park and many other projects that are in and outside the country (Google Green).
Managers could profit from more clean technology and resources used that bring the consequences such as cleaner environment and less pollution, cleaner air and earth which can help to get more attention and more benefit since it is what we are all thriving for. Managers that are promoting and working with renewable energy and resources could benefit by getting involved with the company because that can bring them more money and can boost their projects. It would be moral and ethical in every aspect to start to try using more clean energy and resources and from coal society come to the society that uses sources such as wind, water, geothermal energy, solar and nuclear energy. With ever biggest oil and gas consumption, we are polluting the earth, contributing to the green gas house emissions that are causing global change and we are only hurting ourselves.
Conclusion
Imagine what the world could look like if those and many other future technologies will be implemented and will function as they were presumed at the beginning stage of development. We could be living in a total different world. In a world where the hard work is done by robots, where we do not worry about daily basic routine things, where we could reach the highest potentials possible. We could be focusing on more important things. The paper focused only on the Google technologies, but there are many other companies involved with the development of new technologies and products that have the potential of improving our life in medical, social and working area. Don’t we all want to see how the world will look like in 100 years from now? What new technologies would be imposed and in use. Will we still drive, go to work, eat, go to school, and have social interactions?
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
Blokdijk, Gerard. (2015). Home Automation – Simple Steps to Win, Insights and Opportunities fro Maxing Out Success. United States: Complete Publishing.
D’Onfro, Jillian. (2015). Google’s Robot Group Struggles to Fill Leadership Vacuum as it Shoots for Ambitious Lanuch Before 2020. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/whats-going-on-with-google-robotics-2015-11
Google Green. Retrieved from https://www.google.si/green/energy/
Kutan, Appuu, (2007). Robotics. Mumbay: I.K. International Publishing House.
Lamb, Frank. (2013). Industrial Automation: Hands-On. United States of America: McGraw-Hill Education.
Newlands, Murray. (2015). Top 18 Home Automation Companies Who Will Run Your Home. Huffepost Business. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/murray-newlands/top- 18-home-automation-co_b_8072238.html
Themsche, Van. S. (2016). The Advent of Unmanned Electric Vehicles: The choices Between E-mobility and Immobility. Germany: Springer.
Zolofagharifard, Ellie. (2014). Now Google is Going to Dominate the Space: Searcg Giant to Lanuch 180 Satellities to Provide Internet Access for the Entire Plant, Sources Claim. Retrieved from
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2646039/Googles-plans-world-domination-Search-giant-launch-180-satellites-bring-internet-access-ENTIRE-planet.html
Wenz, John. (2015). Google’s Solar-Powered Internet Plane Crashed in New Mexico. Retrieved from http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/drones/a15794/googles-solar-powered-plane-crashed/
