Google Now
 Google Now on the Galaxy Nexus | |
| Original author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | |
| Initial release | July 9, 2012 |
| Operating system | Android 4.1+ ("Jelly Bean") |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Intelligent software assistant |
| Website | Google Now |
Google Now is an intelligent personal assistant available for Google's Android operating system. An extension of Android's native Google Search application, Google Now uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of web services. Along with answering user-initiated queries, Google Now passively delivers information to the user that it predicts they will want, based on their search habits. It was first included in Android 4.1 ("Jelly Bean") and was first supported on the Galaxy Nexus. Popular Science named Google Now the "Innovation of the Year" for 2012.[1]
History
In late 2011, reports surfaced that Google was developing a virtual assistant for the next version of Android, similar to Apple's Siri. It was originally codenamed "Majel" after Majel Barrett, the wife of Gene Roddenberry, and well known as the voice of computer systems in his Star Trek franchise; it was also codenamed "assistant".[2]
On June 27, 2012, Google Now was unveiled as part of the premiere demonstration of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at the Google I/O.[3]
On October 29, 2012, Google Now received an update through the Google Play Store bringing the addition of Gmail cards.[4] Google Now displays cards with information pulled from the users Gmail account, such as flight information, package tracking information, hotel reservations and restaurant reservations. Other additions were movies, concerts, stocks and news cards based on the users location and search history. Also included is creating calendar events using voice input.
Functionality
Google Now is implemented as an aspect of the Google Search application. It recognizes repeated actions that a user performs on the device (common locations, repeated calendar appointments, search queries, etc.) to display more relevant information to the user in the form of "cards". The system leverages Google's Knowledge Graph project, a system used to assemble more detailed search results by analyzing their meaning and connections.[3][5]
Specialized cards currently include:
- Currency
- Concerts
- Events
- Flights
- Gmail (currently English only)
- Hotel Confirmations
- Movies (including those opening in theaters)
- Nearby attractions
- Next appointment
- News update (for story you are interested in)
- Packages
- Photo spots
- Places
- Public alerts
- Public transit
- Restaurant reservations
- Sports scores
- Time back home
- Traffic
- Translation
- Weather
See also
- Microsoft TellMe
- S Voice, used by the Samsung Galaxy S III
- Siri, used by the iPhone
References
- ^ "Google Now". Popular Science. 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ^ Webster, Scott (2011-12-15). "Google's project Majel gets more interesting by the day". CNET. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ a b "Google I/O Day One: Google continues attacks on Apple, Amazon". CNET. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ Ravenscraft, Eric (2012-10-29). "Google Search Updated, Brings New Google Now Cards And Voice Actions - Yes, You Can Set Calendar Events". Android Police. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
- ^ "Google Makes Search 'More Human' with Knowledge Graph". BBC News. May 16, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
External links
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