ChickenBrick Studios is a software and design company that has done the heavy lifting for many of Immersion’s haptic software demos. The team was at Google I/O this year and offered to give Haptic Antic readers a developer’s view into the coolest technology at the show. Here’s what they had to say:
The annual Google I/O conference is always a treat for developers, designers and industry professionals, and this year’s event has been no exception. From a developer’s perspective, here are the top 5 coolest new technologies that our team saw at the show.
5. Nexus Q – The Nexus Q is more than just a repackaged Google TV set top box. It blends a sleek, unobtrusive form factor with social interactivity and the convenience of the cloud. What does this mean for developers? More Android devices in more hands translates to more opportunities to delight and engage users by delivering great multimedia content.
4. Google Now – Google Now takes the power of Google Search to the next level. Prior to Google Now, the user was responsible for entering in search queries to find desired information or do multi-step planning ensure sufficient time to get from place to place. Google Now takes care of all that by intelligently blending a user’s calendar with other services such as Google Maps. This gives developers more time to focus on creating great content instead of sitting in traffic or setting up travel plans.
3. Compute Engine – With Google’s new Compute Engine, the masses can now access the speed and reliability of Google’s compute cloud. This service brings hundreds of thousands of cores to the fingertips of developers everywhere.
2. Jelly Bean – Android 4.1 brings a refined UI, improved performance, and a handful of other enhancements that are available to developers today and available for mass consumption starting in July. While a majority of the Android user base is still on Android 2.2 and 2.3, developers can start getting their apps ready for the future. The mobile industry moves fast, and Jelly Bean will be the standard in no time.
1. Project Glass – Google co-founder Sergey Brin put on a fantastic performance for the conference audience complete with skydivers to showcase the upcoming Google Glass project. Flashy acrobatics aside, this project has huge implications for developers and for the world. At present, many of the capabilities and specifications of the product are shrouded in secrecy, but Google Glass may soon open the doors for new types of apps that the world has never seen.
There were many other fantastic technologies and products on display at Google I/O, and the only way to soak it all in is to attend the conference. We had a great time, and we look forward to seeing you all there next year.
Happy coding!
ChickenBrick Studios!