Secret Prototype That Works Like the Star Trek Communicator Developed By Google
Based on the communicator in Star Trek, Google has developed a prototype wearable circular device with a built-in microphone and Bluetooth that can be connected to a smartphone. The device is basically a lapel pin that the characters Captain Picard and his crew used to wear on their uniforms to communicate with the artificial intelligence and crew onboard the Starship Enterprise in the popular science fiction. The prototype was described in an interview to TIME by Amit Singhal, who is Google’s executive in charge of search initiatives.
The intention behind it is to see users interactions with voice search in new ways. All the user has to do is wear it on the chest, and activate the Google pin with a light tap. The prototype (pictured above) might output sound by connecting to headphones or through an onboard speaker. The thought was to make it easier for the users to communicate with Google without the need to remove their cell phones. “I always wanted that pin,” Singhal said. “You just ask it anything and it works. That’s why we were like, ‘Let’s go prototype that and see how it feels.’”
Unfortunately, further testing did not see the device leave its prototype stages, but it goes on to show how far Google is willing to go to make inventions in ways to search. Through voice search, which is getting more very skilled at understanding natural language, the company is trying to change the ways people access information. In addition, Google Now, a predictive service too tries to surface valuable information for users before they even think to search for it.
Joining the race are Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft who all are looking to develop similar services like Google.
