Today when I read Google’s announcement that they’ve acquired North, a developer of human computer interfaces and smart glasses, I was reminded of Google’s new goal called ambient computing. Basically it means that they’re “building towards a future where helpfulness is all around you, where all your devices just work together and technology fades into the background”.
I think this is a great goal. I really like the idea that technology is there for you – at your service – exactly when you need it, and ideally it should even proactively suggest solutions for you when you don’t realize yourself that you could get assistance.
The concept of ambient computing was introduced in the Made by Google 19 keynote, where Senior Vice President of Devices and Services Rick Osterloh spoke about bringing a more helpful Google to us all. He said:
In the mobile era, smartphones changed the world. It’s super useful to have a powerful computer everywhere you are. But it’s even more useful when computing is anywhere you need it, always available to help. Now you heard me talk about this idea with Baratunde, that helpful computing can be all around you — ambient computing. Your devices work together with services and AI, so help is anywhere you want it, and it’s fluid. The technology just fades into the background when you don’t need it. So the devices aren’t the center of the system, you are. That’s our vision for ambient computing.
Especially the part about “help being anywhere you want it and it’s fluid” strikes a chord with me. The same goes for “technology just fades into the background when you don’t need it”. That’s exactly the way it should be. Not the other way around, i.e. that you need to focus on some device with an obscure user interface in order to get something done.
In 1991 legendary tech columnist Walt Mossberg published his first personal-technology column in the Wall Street Journal. He wrote that “personal computers are just too hard to use, and it isn’t your fault” and concluded that people are still relying heavily on hobbyists to help them navigate technology. Almost 30 years later I still feel that this is the case way too often. Technology simply is too hard to use.
That’s why I think Google’s idea of ambient computing is so attractive and worth pursuing. Apple of course has had similar thoughts for a long time with slogans like “it just works”. The tricky part is that if you’re stuck with two ecosystems like I am (i.e. using both Apple’s and Google’s ecosystems), then unfortunately many things just “don’t work”. You need to know when to use what.
When it comes to home automation, where I’ve made the decision to put everything under Google Home, I can however oftentimes see glimpses of ambient computing in action. Google Assistant is there for me exactly when I need it, even in my sauna – and thanks to intelligent automation, many things like heating and lighting work in the background exactly as it should.
Considering how much development is now happening in the realm of Automation, Machine Learning, and Digital Assistants, it’s safe to assume that ambient computing will take a giant leap forward during this decade. Can’t wait to see what comes next.