Are we ready to further integrate technology in our lives?
Today’s tech companies all agree: Artificial Intelligence is the next big thing. Google has opened up its machine learning platform, Microsoft has experimented with conversational bots, the Internet of Things has started to boom. They are all striving to reduce the distance between humans and machines. Why?
We’ve come a long way from Turing’s first computer to today’s laptops. Back then, interactions with computers were reserved for trained scientists. Through the years, devices have become more approachable. When I turned six, my father bought the first computer for his company. We discovered uses for software we had never dreamed of; we started playing increasingly advanced games, and now the computer that used to take up a whole room fits into our hands. But do you know what hasn’t changed at all over the past sixty years? It’s the way we communicate with the devices. The keyboard has been going strong for decades and today, we cannot replace it: nothing matches its simplicity and efficiency.
I am not a developer. I’m not an engineer. I am just a 22 year-old who learned to use a laptop growing up and went with the technological flow. And when I heard I could wear a cellphone on my wrist and easily tell it what to do for me, I was sold. For real. Or so I thought.
Smartwatches — not quite what you hoped for
“Ok Google, remind me to buy some bread at 6p.m”. The watch sets up a reminder with the title “buy bread” at 6p.m, fantastic. Then it vibrates on your wrist as expected and reminds you to buy some bread. As a user, that is the best I could get out of my watch. Why ? Because it’s natural. Apart from the “Ok Google”, the sentence is basic and intuitive enough for humans to do without too much thought, and clear enough for the watch to understand.
It is the only vocal command I use, because it truly saves time compared to getting my phone out of my pocket, and it works well.
Other commands require preparation. During the first week, all excited, I tried “Ok Google, send a message to Lucy saying that I’m on my way”. Doesn’t work because “message” is not specific enough. My second try was “Ok Google, send a SMS to Lucy saying that I’m on my way”. That worked to a point, but then I was asked “which Lucy?” and had to use the touchscreen to select the right person. If you want it to work flawlessly, you need to add the person’s surname. Then yes, it will work most of the time.
But just think about what actually happens. Before sending a text, you need to remember to specify the kind of message, then you need to use the full name in your contacts, you need to make sure that you’re in a quiet place, don’t mumble or mispronounce anything. Quite the mission!
What’s missing? Real conversation. And we can’t really blame the manufacturers! It’s a hard task to create a machine that easily understands you. Preparing the sentence in your head beforehand might be fun for the first week, but you quickly lose interest, go back to your old habits and get your phone out.
We have evolved with technology, and now expect immediacy. Everything has to fit into our lives naturally and rapidly, and that’s what’s lacking here. I have no doubt that in the future, smart objects and voice controls will be the norm. But right now, they are not. We don’t need voice controls, we need conversation, or at least natural understanding. I don’t mind if my device can’t speak back to me yet. What I do want is for it to understand everything that I ask.
Now, let’s take a trip down future lane.
What’s next?
Just imagine a world where phones are even more integrated in our lives. And take a step further: imagine a world with no phones where we can communicate and share even better than now?
Multinationals agree that AI and smart devices are the future, and they’re right. Wearables will create an aura of connection around everybody and will provide human-machine interaction in its most natural form. No more keyboards, no unique device that links us to the internet, but a multitude of devices that all interact with us and each other. This means important improvements in the world of science and goes beyond what we have today in terms of UX, miniaturization, battery life and data storage.
A very common criticism of wearables comes from the idea that stronger integration of the digital will completely cut us off from reality. I disagree. This brilliant article from Héctor L. Carral gives you great insights.
We already feel like we have access to the world’s entire knowledge and history on the internet. That might be true. It is a beautiful tool. But anybody present on the social media scene can agree that we are in a content-flooded era. There are so many things to see, read, and learn about that you end up ignoring it all. What is starting to happen is personalized content. Websites in future won’t be generic anymore. Everybody will have a different version, based on likes, dislikes, interests, opinions.
At home, you’ll have it all: sensors at your doors, live health monitoring with wearables, automatic grocery shopping from your fridge, and so much more.
Some of these products are already available but lack integration because of the traditional way we design houses. Unless we’re talking about your alarm system or your internet box, nothing is connected: not your bathtub, not your fridge, not your lights. This will change. Nest is already making changes by connecting your heating and security systems. Multimedia brands are creating interconnected entertainment units: for instance, Apple has the sound (iPod), television (Apple TV), computer (Macbooks) and mobile (iPhones) all transversal. This will only go further, and you can read about it in another one of our articles.
And it won’t stop at the walls of your house. Your city will be upgraded: imagine a traffic sensor at every traffic light for live updates, or no more traffic lights in quiet areas, just “go” and “stop” smart signs adjusting to the situation in real time. All of this linked to our driverless smart cars. Streetlights will be automatic and speech activated for emergencies on the streets. Public transportation will change: grocery shopping in the subway, “hoverboards” everywhere, augmented reality GPS. That’ll involve trains and planes too. And so much more.
Are you excited yet? Can’t wait to experience this hassle free life? I know I can’t.
Today’s tech companies all agree: Artificial Intelligence is the next big thing. Keyboards will be replaced by natural communication. And you know what?I couldn’t be happier.
Start talking to your microwave. It will soon talk back.
Justine BARON — Recast.AI
This post was originally published on our blog.
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