Patent 1 of 2: How Google learns to influence and control users
Columnist Dave Davies does a deep dive into a recently granted Google patent that describes how your data and context could be used to influence your future actions.
Topic: Context-aware computing
Google “Now on Tap” Offers Holiday Use Cases Such As Package Tracking, Travel
The simplest way to describe Google Now on Tap is perhaps “context-driven search.” It’s a way for users to generate more content or information about a subject or item without ever conducting a formal search — or even swiping for Google Now. Whether in an app, mobile site, email or text message, Now on Tap […]
Google’s iOS App Now Provides Context-Aware Conversational Search
Google recently updated its iOS app to bring context-aware searching to any content within search results. It allows searchers to ask additional questions without formulating entirely new queries. Here’s how Google explains the functionality in the app update description: Say “Ok Google” and ask a question while on any Web page to get smart answers about what you […]
Google Now On Tap Finds In-App Answers, Navigates Between Apps Seamlessly
No keywords required. From the context of apps being used, Google Now on Tap can suggest related information & move users between apps as necessary.
Google In-Store & Location-Aware Product Reminders Now In Google Now For Android
Yesterday, as expected, Google announced on Google+ that the location-aware, in-store product reminders are now built into the latest version of Google Now on your Android Google Search App. Google said “if you’re out and about and near a store that carries those boots, you might see a Google Now card showing you the product […]
Rumor: Google To Broadly Expand “OK Google” Voice Actions
According to Android Police, Google is preparing a broad expansion of voice actions beyond its search app. The report describes this initiative as “OK Google Everywhere.” Voice actions would extend to other Google apps (e.g., mail, photos) and would also be contextually specific, taking on Google Now-like capabilities. Currently queries and some app-related commands can […]
Expect Labs Offers Free API: Google Now In A Box
Expect Labs, which is behind the MindMeld consumer application, has announced a new developer API. The new API brings the company’s “anticipatory computing” platform to third parties in the cloud. Use of the API is free. Expect Labs is trying to get it “out there” and see how developers deploy the company’s technology on their applications. As a […]
Samsung, Intel Invest In “Anticipatory Search” Startup Expect Labs
Expect Labs, which is a small startup in the San Francisco Bay Area, has a very impressive list of investors. Today the company announced a new funding round, though the figures weren’t disclosed. Investors are the venture or investment arms of Intel, Samsung and Telefonica. Telefonica is the world’s fourth largest telco and owns mobile […]
“Google Now” Moving Well Beyond Search, Becoming Mobile Assistant
Almost exactly three years ago then Google employee Marissa Mayer described “the perfect search engine” in an interview with IDG News. She said it would be one “that could understand speech, questions, phrases, what entities you’re talking about, concepts. It would be able to search all of the world’s information, [find] different ideas and concepts, […]
We’re All Different. Why Aren’t Our Search Options?
Our online activity is about to be spread over more and more devices. This opens up some interesting implications for UI design. More and more, we’ll be launching queries from more places that will have different environmental challenges. For example: