The Google Driverless Cars
Self-driven cars are one of the technologies being developed by Google. The chauffeur software powers the robotic vehicles and is capable of detecting anything a human driver can see. The driverless cars are equipped with a light radar system, 64-beam laser, and high-definition inch-precision map as well as other detection equipment. The 64-beam laser is the range finder, which is placed at the top of the vehicle. Besides, the laser enables the robotic vehicle to create a three-dimensional map of its immediate environment. The three-dimensional maps are combined with the world’s high-resolution maps to produce diverse characteristics of data models that allow the car to drive automatically (Fisher, 2013). Besides the on-board systems, the driverless cars are also systematically automated in certain remote computer houses.
According to Google, cars are not just purposely for transportation but can also be used for other purposes (Fisher, 2013). Driverless cars technology would revolutionize the manner in which people commute around the globe. Driverless car technology would find various applications ranging from providing the solutions to physical inabilities to commercials. Most importantly, blind people would easily commute using driverless cars. Finding something that the blind can comfortably utilize without any help is one of the greatest solutions the driverless cars can offer (Fisher, 2013). Besides, driverless cars can be utilized for advertisements as well as meeting various business hauling needs. While various individual and business applications can find the driverless cars useful, the firm is still not yet ready to roll out the technology for commercial purposes. In other words, the driverless cars will not be utilized in the near future (Fisher, 2013).
However, technology can still be used for various purposes. In fact, Google is planning to come up with a firm that would market the technology to the producers of automobiles. The technology behind driverless cars is currently becoming popular with automobile manufacturers (Fisher, 2013). Some of the firms are testing the technology with the application of low-powered green energy. Essentially, the technology behind driverless cars has the potential for the future.
However, the applicability of the driverless cars on the common roads has been questioned. In fact, some of the critics argue that operating driverless cars pose great risks to other road users (Fisher, 2013). Besides, the concerns that the technology is ahead of road regulation in most of the jurisdictions have been raised. While the technology is noble, most states and countries have not adjusted the road regulations to allow the vehicles to be operated (Fisher, 2013). Moreover, according to policymakers and regulators, new laws need to be enacted in order to make the technology a reality. With fast advancing technology and changes in the transport sector, there is a need to change some of the regulations that were used as far as the age of horse-driven carriages (Fisher, 2013).
The violations of the road regulations are not the only issue with the driverless car technology. The majority still do not trust the technology, and most fears pronounced accidents in case the technological error (Fisher, 2013). Since cars are expected to carry those who cannot drive, there are increased chances of causing accidents. While the issues have been raised from various fronts, Google has defended the technology as being the safest inroads. According to the firm, safety is one of the most considered factors while developing technology. Besides, studies indicate that the accidents involving chauffeur technology used in driverless cars are extremely limited compared with accidents caused by human drivers (Fisher, 2013).
Google Renewable Energy
Google’s focus on renewable energy is based on the need for the production and utilization of green energy (Google, 2014). Google has put in place various projects aimed at attaining the goal of producing green energy. In fact, all projects of Google emphasize on saving energy. Developing the technologies aimed at extracting renewable and clean energy has been the major objective of the firm (Google, 2014). Through the utilization of Google.org platform, the firm has been involved in the development of solar, wind, and geothermal technologies aimed at tapping the renewable and clean energy. The Google.org has been pursuing projects that give attention to the development of solar-powered turbines that would produce enough electricity to power industries and meet the needs of firms and institutions that require large quantities of energy.
Related to solar turbines, the firm is involved in the development of low-cost heliostats that concentrates solar energy (Google, 2014). The heliostats are large concave mirrors that track the sun and converges the sun’s rays to produce solar energy. The firm is also involved in various projects that develop technologies used in mapping the solar as well as the geothermal sources of energy around the globe. The major aim of the projects is to come up with new technologies that would enable firms and industries to generate clean and renewable energy (Google, 2014).
Google aims to eliminate the power generated through the burning of coal or other carbon fuels. The power generated from fossil fuels accounts for over ninety percent of the total world energy. The burning of the fuel has also caused climate-related problems resulting from the greenhouse effects of the hydrocarbons being emitted into the atmosphere (Google, 2014). The eliminations of the problems associated with the current energy generation techniques are one of the ways through which Google’s renewable energy technologies are useful to humankind (Google, 2014).
The renewable energy techniques developed by Google would be beneficial to all people across the globe. Besides the huge contribution to the reduction of global warming, the renewable and clean energy would be affordable to the majority of consumers (Google, 2014). In fact, the firm aims to develop ways through individual homes that can easily tap solar energy and economically utilize it to meet its energy needs. Google believes that the efficient tapping and application of solar energy can be achieved through developing energy-saving home appliances, solar cars, and other forms of equipment that can function without the use of powered energy (Google, 2014).
The development of green and renewable energy technologies is within the broader goal of the firm geared towards reducing climate change (Google, 2014). In fact, the goal has seen the firm developing various programs that protect businesses against the adverse effects of climate change. Using the Google Venture platform, the firm has collaborated with various firms to develop technologies geared towards reducing global warming and sponsoring businesses to come up with technologies that are applicable to their own environments (Google, 2014). Through the initiatives, Google perceives renewable energy as a business opportunity apart from the environmental benefits. The continuous investments in the development of green energy are one way of securing the future for everyone.
Google Home Automation
Google has been involved in the development of new technologies that lead to the advancements of home automation (Khedekar, 2014). Home automation technologies vary from refrigerators that senses when the milk is running out and automatically orders for more to kettles that robotically brew coffee. The firm has been involved in these developments through its Android@Home platform. Through the platform, the firm has developed the technologies that connect the light bulbs as well as the coffee pots to the android phones.
However, the firm is moving beyond home applications. The firm is currently involved in the development of much broader gargets using the internet through the Internet of Things platform (Khedekar, 2014). Currently, the firm is pursuing an open accessory development kit. The firm is collaborating with various accessory manufacturing firms to develop appliances that can easily be connected to the internet through android technology. In fact, Google is calling upon the accessory manufacturers to connect anything from small frills to larger appliances. In the programs, the firm is developing new technologies that would ensure the connection of anything from small gadgets to large machines (Khedekar, 2014).
The firm’s home automation technologies are involved not only the development of home appliances but also energy-saving gadgets and smart home thermostats. The firm is currently involved in the development of home automation security. In fact, the firm is planning to develop Dropcam, a connected camera start-up that utilizes cloud services. The application of the cloud-connected security camera allows the users to record everything at all places using compatible devices (Khedekar, 2014). The firm is actually advancing into home security and automation. Using the Dropcam, the firm is putting together actions and activities into particular movements, including notifications for special alerts.
The firm believes that home automation remains critical in saving valuable resources that can be utilized somewhere for other benefits. The NEST program that involves the development of smart home thermostat is one of the proven cases (Khedekar, 2014). The program has developed a device that saves quite an amount of energy while at the same time utilizing green energy that is critical in conserving the environment and reduction of carbon emissions. With home automation programs, Google is focusing on saving and the utilization of green energy. The automation of home appliances would also save people time, which can be utilized in other income-generating activities. Besides, the automation of home devices would also enhance security (Khedekar, 2014). The development of home toolkits that are connected to gargets such as iPhones and iPads and allow users to have control over their security cameras, switches, lights, home, and garage-doors is critical in enhancing security.
Making life easier and better is the major theme behind developing new gadgets that enhance home automation (Khedekar, 2014). Google believes that saving on valuable resources, such as time, would make life easier and better. Besides, the firm believes in the utilization of green energy as well as savings on the use of energy as the main component of making planet earth a better place to live. Above all, through the home automation, the firm wants to be part of the firms that make devices that secure, make easier, and better the life of humankind.
Google Space Elevators
Google is currently involved in the development of space technologies ranging from space elevators to techniques that would land man into other planets. Google is currently investing in technologies that would end up with an infrastructure that leaves the earth’s atmosphere into space. In fact, Google’s space elevators would enable direct access to space without the utilization of rockets (Miller & Bilton, 2011). The argument is that rocket propulsion utilizes a lot of energy in terms of fuel, which contributes to carbon emissions. In addition, the utilized rocket parts also pose a serious danger of colliding with important satellites above the earth’s atmosphere. The shortcomings in the current space technology have pushed Google to come up with another program within the Google X space project (Miller & Bilton, 2011).
The main idea behind the space elevator program is to develop a ribbon running from earth into the low-earth orbit, allowing space vehicles easy access into space. The ease of accessibility into space would enhance scientific experiments as well as other commercial ventures (Miller & Bilton, 2011). Besides, the elevators can be transformed into a landing platform used to land vehicles into other planets. Goggle is among the firms that believe such kind of elevators can be developed and become operational within this decade (Miller & Bilton, 2011).
Space elevators are one of the projects that go beyond the boundaries of the firm’s web search business. Google believes that the technology would be used to collect information from space and transport materials, including fresh supplies to the international space station (Miller & Bilton, 2011). Google plans to make the technology be commercially plausible and return enormous benefits to the firm. Even though the technology is based on space travel along with cables fixed on earth, the firm believes that the technique has increased advantages compared with the current rocket travels. According to the firm’s founders and entrepreneurs, the aim of developing technology is to make space travel cheaper and energy-efficient (Miller & Bilton, 2011).
Space elevators will primarily be used to enhance Google’s involvement in collecting the data that is beyond the earth. One of the major areas where the technology would be used is to aid in mapping the earth’s solar energy as well as collecting some of the solar data (Miller & Bilton, 2011). Google believes that space elevator technology would enhance space explorations as well as related commercial ventures.
Space elevators are one of the technologies that would promote human endeavor in exploiting the resources beyond the earth’s atmosphere. Besides, the technology is aimed at savings into energy in terms of the fuel used in the rocket propulsions. Besides, technology is one of the cleanest and green energies that can be used to haul materials into space. Other risks associated with the current rocket technology are also reduced considerably (Miller & Bilton, 2011). However, whether the technology is important at this moment is still questionable. Most critics argue that the firm should be involved in developing technologies that directly benefit the people. While the firm is committed to solving the earth’s problems through technology, space elevators are technologies that do not provide a solution to the earth’s immediate needs (Miller & Bilton, 2011).
Google New Drugs and Treatments
Google is one of the firms that are keen on developing new forms of drugs that can easily fight diseases. Essentially, the firm is currently working on new drug development technologies that remain critical in fighting the current epidemics (Mark, 2011). Currently, the firm is heavily investing in a novel approach in the development of drugs that use yeast cells to discover new antibodies. Google has entered into a joint venture with Adimab, a pharmaceutical firm, to develop this technology and come up with new drugs that can easily fight related diseases at cheaper costs. Besides, the Google subsidiary firm, Hyperion, is also involved in developing new drugs using the techniques dubbed cellular reprogramming (Mark, 2011). The technique is used to manufacture drugs that are capable of modifying the genetic structure of the disease-causing pathogens.
Besides, Google is involved in the development of new technologies in fighting diseases such as cancer. Google believes that fighting cancer fits perfectly with its corporate social responsibility. Google has invested heavily in cancer prevention and treatment technologies, including the development of new kinds of generic drugs (Mark, 2011). In addition, through collaborating with various medical foundations, Google has been involved in the development of new techniques that integrate the genomic and molecular data to come up with novel approaches to cancer care and treatment. The firm understands that the engineering involved in the cancer cure is a global challenge.
As indicated, the social responsibility theme at Google of making life better for all people in society fits well with its continuous involvement and investments in the drug development techniques. The involvement in the new techniques will drive humankind miles ahead in the treatment and fight against some of the common diseases (Mark, 2011). The venture into the development of new medical technology will benefit society as a whole. Google believes that humankind can appropriately utilize the technological prowess to conquer some of the diseases that have remained a challenge within the global front. Diseases such as cancer can be eliminated through the application of the technologies. In essence, the venture into the new technologies critical in fighting the diseases will remain beneficial to humankind for generations to come.
However, new technologies have side effects. In fact, the new drugs have been questioned over their effectiveness and test concerns (Mark, 2011). The pharmaceutical firms collaborating with Google have been taken into the task to explain the applicability of the new drugs in the human body. Besides, the firms have been accused of testing the new technological drugs in developing countries irrespective of the regulations that have been put in place. However, ethical concerns have not stopped Google from its continuous quest to fight the diseases. In fact, the firm has put in place measures that address ethical concerns while continuing to develop new approaches to the treatment of diseases (Mark, 2011). Generally, the benefits of new technologies in treatments the firm is investing in is greater compared with some of the issues that have been raised. The firm believes that ethical concerns can be solved. New approaches in fighting diseases should remain the driving factor.
References
Fisher, A. (2013). Inside Google’s quest to popularize self-driving cars. Popular Science. Web.
Google (2014). The application of renewable energy at Google. Web.
Khedekar, N. (2014). Google I/O: A peek into potential new home automation features for Android. Web.
Mark, E. (2011). Google future tech: 10 coolest Google R&D projects. CIO. Web.
Miller, C. & Bilton, N. (2011). Google’s lab of wildest dreams. The New York Times. Web.