While in MIS, we have learned a great deal about the multitude of projects Google has planned for the future. From Google Glass to the tech giant’s self-driving car, it’s obvious that Google has become a sort of pioneer into the future applications of technology. With this in mind, Google’s Project Tango shows that these pioneers are not stopping at cars and glasses, but are becoming a catalyst in the evolution of the mobile phone and its applications.
Project tango is Google’s smartphone endeavor being overseen by their Advanced Technology and Projects group (or ATAP). As stated on their official website, “Project Tango is an attempt to create a mobile device unlike like any other, a mobile device that shares our sense of space and movement, that understands and perceives the world the same way we do”. In other words, Project Tango is a device that can track its own motion as well as model the environment around it in 3D using customized hardware and software.
The sensors in the phone allow for over a quarter million 3D measurements every second updating its orientation and position in real-time. Project Tango then combines that data into a single 3D model of the space around the device, which is a huge step into the future of how we look and interact with the environment around us.
A collaboration of different universities, research labs, and industrial partners from over 8 countries in the past 10 years, Project Tango has around 200 prototype development kits, which will be distributed by mid-March 2014. With these development kits in the hands of developers so soon, the possibilities for Project Tango’s application are endless. From helping the visually impaired navigate new spaces to finding the exact location of the items you need in the store, Google’s ATAP and Project Tango look to revolutionize the mobile phone industry.
Links/Resource: https://www.google.com/atap/projecttango/
Project Tango sounds like it will be a game changer for the cell phone industry. Google has been creating an array of amazing technology advances these over the last few years. I am excited where they take this idea and how consumers will react.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David I am excited to see what happens with this but I am worried about the affordability of this product. With all this amazing technology comes a costly price to produce it and thus a very high selling price. I worry about how marketable the product will be with such a high cost. Guess time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI think that when this product comes out and is available for everyone it will be very useful and a great tool to have. But as Nassar stated, when the product first surfaces it is likely going to be too pricey for most people to afford. But great article, and very interesting product. Can't wait to see how it progresses in the future.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a great tool for animators and game designers. Rather than putting the sensors in something inspired by smartphones which on one hand make the device more compact this seems like it would work better as a wearable like their head-mounted Google Glass or something like what they use to generate Street View images of the Grand Canyon
ReplyDeleteProject Tango seems like a really futuristic way to consume technology. Even though it's in its early stages, I'm sure it would catch on once the developers really get to use it and come up with new applications for it.
ReplyDeleteProject Tango sounds like a great futuristic product. Like they stated, this is designed to be a prototype phone. One that can do anything it's asked of. I feel like this product has an immense amount of potential and should definitely be invested in.
ReplyDeleteProject tango sounds good, but how will it progress later? I mean yeah, it helps you find things. But doesn't that just seem like a bit much for a phone. Will it get updates? What other kind of features will it have? I feel this will get old really quickly.
ReplyDeleteProject Tango sounds like one of the best ideas that ive heard in a while, but i would like to know more about and would like to see it tested more
ReplyDeleteThis could potentially be the next big thing in the cell phone industry! I'm interested in seeing what else google has up their sleeve.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see whats next. Technology has advanced so vastly in the last few decades. Project tango could be creating the next bomb in the mobile phone industry. Flop or not?
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog, Project Tango sounds like a good idea. I can't wait to see how it progresses in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see advancements in mobile phone technology. It will be great to see all the new apps and functions you can use the phone for in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat I enjoyed most about this post is the demonstration of how technology is allowing people from different colleges, science institutions, companies and think tanks to come together and develop a common goal which is this phone. Its incredible how a small group of google employees got all these stakeholders to buy into their vision and develop a phone that is going to be nothing short of amazing. On the other hand I am curious about what major phone brands such as apple and samsung are cooking up to compete with this phone! I am interested to see the new software and applications that will be built for this phones and the market disruption that this will cause!
ReplyDeleteSo now not only can our conversations be listened in to an our messages to each other be read, now the room we're currently in can literally be scanned in a realtime 3d model including any furniture, objects, or any other people in it. At any time. A little scary.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. Davies. Granted if we're doing anything illegal it shouldn't matter whether we are being observed...but regardless I think its a violation of personal space. Of course people are going to buy in because people follow fads, but first Apple with the fingerprint then Google glasses and now a sensor/scanner?! The government guys, the government.
ReplyDeleteIs there ever going to be a point where our phones knowing so much about us is TOO much? They already can virtually locate us at any given time, now tapped phones will be able to disclose every single detail about the users current environment.
ReplyDeleteProject Tango could very well be a game changer in the cell phone industry but it does seem like the government is about to be getting to know us a little bit better.
ReplyDeleteAnything that allows the public to take one step forward it also allows the government to take three.
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