“Ok Google, who is Allen Firstenberg?”
If you ask this question of any device enabled with Google Assistant, you might learn that Allen Firstenberg is one of the innovators responsible for making it possible to ask those questions on Google Home or any Android enabled phone, watch, or even car. Allen is a Google Developer Expert who helps developers worldwide understand how to use Google technologies, such as Google Assistant.
Allen currently works with Google on a number of projects. He is a full-stack web developer, mobile developer and developer for Google Assistant. Much of his focus is on wearables and IoT. His passion is in discovering new ways for technology and everyday items to interact together to enhance the lives of users.
Hearing Allen talk about these concepts is enough to get anyone excited for the future. He is unapologetically enthusiastic about how developers can do great things to increase the capabilities of technologies. He is currently encouraging developers to do so with Google Assitant. Speaking to audiences at various dev events, Allen is sharing his ideas on the topic of “Building Awesome Actions for Google Assistant”.
We were given a preview of Allen’s DevFest New Haven presentation, so here is a bit of what you can expect. Focusing on actions for Google assistant, Allen will be asking the audience to consider two key questions: what components do we need, and what skills do we need? These two questions are the starting point for any developer working with Google Assistant. Considering what pieces of the puzzle will need to be put into place will help to determine what skills are needed.
For example, one of Allen’s developed actions is a direct response to the age old roadtrip question, “Are we there yet?”. The action, developed for Google Assistant, enables the Assistant to respond to that question with anything from the actual miles and time remaining on a trip, to a snarky quip. In developing this action, Allen had to identify and use components such as Google Maps and Firebase.
The ability to interact with devices in a non-disruptive way is important to users, who expect technology to help them simplify their daily lives with minimal effort. When asked why he loves Google Assistant, Allen says it is because “it integrates into your life, without forcing you to shift attention from your life and the tasks at hand.” Being in that mindset, as a developer, allows for a better user experience from the end product.
This is the mindset that Allen will share with DevFest attendees. He hopes to help other developers think about what they can build to add to the intuitive and helpful nature of Google Assistant. We asked Allen what he is looking forward to the most about DevFest. “The opportunity to interact with attendees and teach people about this awesome technology!”
To see Allen and other presenters share their experiences and expertise, be sure to register for DevFest New Haven. You won’t want to miss it!
Next month, Checkmate will be partnering with GDG New Haven and other local organizations to bring GDG DevFest to our state on November 4th-5th. As our DevFest approaches, we’re taking a few weeks to talk with some of the guest speakers and presenters that will be attending, and sharing the exciting topics they will be bringing to the DevFest 2017 audience.
