Google’s Alphabet is constantly bringing innovation to the world of science and technology. The company has made a number of breakthroughs that could help us live better lives. Some of these innovations include Calico’s reminder device, Verily’s blood-drawing system, and Waymo’s driverless cars.
Amazon’s video ads even on offline devices
Amazon video advertising offers advertisers an excellent platform to reach and engage their audience through online videos. They also provide a way to test and refine your message, images and CTA to maximize conversions. These new advertising solutions are still in the early stages of development, but they can help businesses gain the most from sponsored ads on Amazon.
Sponsored Brands Videos are a relatively new ad type offered by Amazon. These ads are designed to drive purchase intent by increasing brand awareness and driving traffic to the product page. They appear in search results on desktop and mobile shopping pages and are based on keyword targeting. A Sponsored Brands Video has a high impact, as the viewer is automatically directed to the product listing page, making it an ideal means to get conversions started.
In addition to OTT video ads, Amazon has also launched Streaming TV ads. These ads are targeted at a specific audience, such as sports fans. If you’re unsure about which type of ad campaign would be most suitable for your business, Amazon’s ad consultants can help. As with all of their ad offerings, Amazon’s ad consultants are here to ensure that you’re getting the most from your campaigns.
Despite the growing popularity of OTT video services, Amazon Prime Video is the only streaming video service to offer users the ability to download and watch content on their mobile and tablet devices. The service allows users to download up to 15 to 25 videos at a time. However, you can only watch the full library offline for 48 hours.
OTT video ads are an excellent option for advertisers who are looking to target audiences on multiple platforms, including streaming devices, publisher channels and IMDb. As the costs of TV advertising continue to rise, OTT video ads are an affordable option.
Calico’s reminder device
One of the first things that come to mind when I hear the phrase “googlification” is Google’s recent rebranding from the venerable Google to Alphabet. This change has brought forth new opportunities and investments for the company, most notably with a health focused business unit, called Calico. Other Alphabet bets include a smart operating room, called Verb Surgical, and a virtual diabetes clinic, Onduo. These companies are just a few of the many startups Alphabet has backed, as well as some of its older, lesser known ventures.
The Google rebrand has not only ushered in new innovations, but has also served as a reminder to the longtime employees that the company’s legacy offerings are a thing of the past. That said, the name Meta is still a mouthful, and the company has been going through some public relations and product development challenges lately. But that’s okay, because it’s time for a new chapter in the company’s long and storied history. In the words of Mark Zuckerberg, “we’re doing the best we can and we’re leveraging our strengths to create new opportunities for all of our employees.”
While there’s no doubt that the Calico health segment is the big daddy of the group, it’s the other stuff that deserves a spot on the short list of Alphabet’s most noteworthy acquisitions. From the smart operating room to the glucose sensing contact lens, there are a few things that the company has done to set itself apart from the pack.
Verily’s system for drawing blood
Verily, the life sciences arm of Google sister company Alphabet, is working on a wearable blood collection system. It is expected to make the process of drawing blood less painful. The device will use magnetic components and retractable microneedles. A hydrophilic absorptive wick will also help to collect the drawn blood.
While the wearable system has been tested with a watch, it’s still a few years away from becoming a commercially viable product. However, the device may be a good fit for clinical trials and patient monitoring. And the device might even be a welcome relief for patients who have to go through frequent blood draws.
The company has been researching needleless blood collection systems for years. They believe they can overcome some of the scientific and technical hurdles to develop a successful device. But there are also challenges in maintaining the integrity of the collected blood sample.
Verily is working on several ambitious projects. One is a cloud-connected glucose monitor. Another is a contact lens that can be used to track blood biomarkers. Lastly, the company is working on a diabetes control device, a continuous glucose monitor, and a contact lens that can be used as a glucose sensor.
Currently, the only thing we know about the wearable system is that it isn’t yet FDA-approved. That means it can’t be marketed for sale until it is approved. As with any new medical product, the company is faced with several technical and scientific challenges.
If it becomes a reality, the wearable system could replace traditional blood draws. Although the prototype isn’t entirely developed, it’s certainly the most ambitious of the many health care projects the company has in the works.
Microsoft’s brain-computer interfaces
Microsoft is working on a number of brain-computer interfaces. They can help people with disabilities and are a means of augmenting human-computer interaction. Brain-computer interfaces also raise concerns about privacy and security.
Some of the systems that use signals from the user’s brain to control the computer are called direct neural interfaces. Those systems are based on electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography.
One system combines Emotiv EEG and Microsoft Kinect. The technology works by detecting electrical impulses from the user’s brain and translating it into words. This technology has been shown to be able to translate information faster than writing.
The company has been researching brain-computer interfaces for several years. These devices can improve the quality of life for people with impairments and allow users to take action without using their hands.
One of the first uses of a BCI was in a stroke survivor who used a moving head to communicate. Another example is monkeys who have been able to command a robotic arm using their thoughts.
A more advanced BCI could eventually be able to read someone’s mind. Currently, this is an experimental technology that doesn’t have much real-world use. But a number of laboratories have been able to record signals from the cerebral cortex of rats.
Research in this area has been conducted by various institutions, including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Synchron. Among these projects, a team at UCSF recently announced a breakthrough in thought-to-text BCI.
Aside from their potential for helping people with disabilities, Microsoft’s brain-computer interfaces may be able to provide a valuable military benefit. Warfighters would be able to operate drones without using their hands, which can be useful on the battlefield.
Waymo’s driverless cars
The Google Self-Driving Car Project, which was launched in 2009, has become one of the most important autonomous vehicle programs in the world. Eventually, it will lead to safer roads, lower transportation costs, and fewer fossil fuels.
In recent years, many companies have announced their plans to develop driverless cars. Some of them include Waymo, Uber, and Jaguar. All three have recently made significant developments. These changes have the potential to revolutionize the way we get around.
In December 2018, Waymo launched a pilot program in Phoenix. It’s not clear how long this will last. For now, the company will offer driverless rides only to its employees and trusted testers. However, in the future, non-members will be able to use the service.
A new partnership between Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover is a major breakthrough. This will enable the two companies to build an electric fleet of driverless cars.
Hyundai and Yandex are also working on a driverless car. Both companies have been testing their technologies in China. They are also planning to expand their self-driving efforts globally.
Another big announcement is the formation of a partnership between Toyota and the University of Michigan. This will allow the car maker to better map the roads in Arizona.
Other companies that have been testing their self-driving technology include BMW, Autotalks, and nuTonomy. These companies are developing software that will help the cars communicate with each other and understand road conditions.
While these companies have developed technology that will allow them to operate driverless cars, it may be a long time before we see them on the road. One thing is for sure, they aren’t going to drive too fast or take unnecessary risks.
