Google I/O Conference places the future firmly in the Clouds

Google played host to its annual developer conference last week, announcing a series of exciting new developments. The I/O Conference, which was held in San Franscisco on Tuesday and Wednesday and was streamed live across the globe and included the unveiling of the Android Open Accessory project, a programme of work undertaken to assist developers in the creation of apps that will work across all android platforms. A key part of the project is Google@Home - an initiative that seeks to link all android devices in the home, creating an app to control and monitor home appliances such as lights, alarm clocks and kitchen appliances from the comfort of your mobile phone. Think 'Home Alone' for the 21st century. Lights could be controlled remotely, depending on whether a house was occupied or not, dishes could be washed in advance of you getting home, you could even boil the kettle as you head up the drive! The concept, developed alongside the Lighting Science Group has been created in less than two months - indicating the sheer speed and pace at which electronic and digital technology is evolving.

Another exciting development in the pipeline, again supported by cloud technology is Music Beta, a concept which as yet is unavailable, but a tantalisingly imminent innovation which enables music lovers to store purchased songs and albums in the Cloud, freeing up valuable storage space on individual andrioid devices and instead allowing users to access up to 20,000 songs as and when they require. In time, the same technology could also support the purchase, or hire of films and DVDs.

Interestingly, throughout the pre conference marketing and during the main event, the I/O Conference has been billed as a platform to build and develop android devices through a developer network. Rather than position Google as having all the answers, the giant remains steadfastly wedded to the concept of social media as a means to work collaboratively to innovate and create. Perhaps this is part of the success of partnerships such as Google and the Lighting Science Group. While many organisations talk about the desire to work in partnership, few often reap the rewards they covet. As we all become more familiar with the philosophy of social media for business, heading online to build joint ventures and business performance may become the regular stomping ground for a broader range of companies and organisations in the future. And who knows where it might lead...

News