Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead • Hacker News Board

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#11

Post by cbhl » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 1:24 AM UTC

eco wrote: post #6

So the voice search is called Google Now? During the keynote it was confusing because they kept calling the voice stuff "Voice Search" and "Google Now" was only used when talking about the cards (which are confusingly in the same app).

Voice Search is Voice Search. Google Now is just the predictive notifications and the cards (the notifications being the more signifiant part). The two are separate.

Voice Search has been available since Froyo, IIRC -- although in the past it would simply show search results rather than respond with a voice for anything other than a small set of phrases. Voice responses for more general Knowledge Graph queries is new in Jellybean. (Long-press the search button on an older phone, like a Nexus One, to trigger it.)

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#12

Post by necubi » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 1:28 AM UTC

OriginalSyn wrote: post #4

So far Google Now is pretty impressive. I love that it will post a reminder in my notifications before an event telling me when I have to leave to make it there on time based on current traffic conditions.

This can have some amusing results when the input isn't as Google expects. For example, in my office the conference rooms are named after streets, some of which are also cities. So when I have a 2pm meeting in Folsom, I get a notification a couple of hours before telling me I should leave soon so I can make it to Folsom, CA in time.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#13

Post by jrockway » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 1:40 AM UTC

necubi wrote: post #12

OriginalSyn wrote: post #4

So far Google Now is pretty impressive. I love that it will post a reminder in my notifications before an event telling me when I have to leave to make it there on time based on current traffic conditions.

This can have some amusing results when the input isn't as Google expects. For example, in my office the conference rooms are named after streets, some of which are also cities. So when I have a 2pm meeting in Folsom, I get a notification a couple of hours before telling me I should leave soon so I can make it to Folsom, CA in time.

This also happens to me. The conference rooms on the floor I work on are named after landmarks in Manhattan. Meeting invites often say something like "2PM in Battery Park". So at about 1:30, my phone vibrates and says it's going to take 25 minutes to take the subway there. Heh.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#14

Post by habosa » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 1:44 AM UTC

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing.

Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there.

Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Again, I never asked.

Example 3: After 2 days, Google Now guessed where I lived/worked and what time I left for work most days. I don't use any check-in services or anything like that it really just guessed. Then it started telling me what time I'd have to leave home/work to get there on time based on the current subway schedule. Exactly what I wanted, never asked.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#15

Post by tarkin2 » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 1:53 AM UTC

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Really cool, but am I the only one who finds this creepy as hell?

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#16

Post by abduhl » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 2:06 AM UTC

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Example 3 is very disconcerting from a privacy standpoint.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#17

Post by ConstantineXVI » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 2:07 AM UTC

tarkin2 wrote: post #15

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Really cool, but am I the only one who finds this creepy as hell?

I've been operating under the assumption that Google (and others) has been building this sort of data up on their users for a while now; I actually appreciate said data being used (visibly) for my benefit for once.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#18

Post by factorialboy » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 2:09 AM UTC

tarkin2 wrote: post #15

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Really cool, but am I the only one who finds this creepy as hell?

Not really. They (Apple, Google, FB etc.) always had this data. At least they're putting it to good use.

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#19

Post by 0xABADC0DA » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 2:09 AM UTC

tarkin2 wrote: post #15

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Really cool, but am I the only one who finds this creepy as hell?

Yes. Your filter bubble won't let you know that anybody else finds it creepy. "If you like, you can repeat the search with the omitted results included."

Re: Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead

#20

Post by bdr » Sun, Sep 30, 2012, 2:10 AM UTC

tarkin2 wrote: post #15

habosa wrote: post #14

I have been using Google Now for a few months now and it has been amazing. Example 1: One night I was going to a Roots concert and I went through the venue's website on my Google Chrome on my laptop. Then, right around concert time, Google Now alerted me to what subway I should take to get there. Example 2: I searched for the Phillies score once on my tablet, and now my phone tells me about the score of each game. Ag…

Really cool, but am I the only one who finds this creepy as hell?

I'm not trying to be glib, but: so what? Some people will use it, because it will provide value to them. I may be one of them. Kids born today will, if nothing changes, think this stuff is absolutely normal.

Your reaction is a valid one, and I have my limits too, but I think we're beyond the point of merely acknowledging that it's creepy. Please go further: Where is the line? Why? And what are you willing to do about it?