Digital Intervention

Simplifying the Digital World

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An Evening with Google Lens

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I thought it would be fun to test Google Lens and see what it can recognize. This is not a formal test, very random as a matter of fact. It’s currently in beta for users, but I just had to share some of the results. It’s available in version 3.9 of Google Photos. So be on the lookout. If you want more info on Google Lens see this article for Google news.google lens logoAll in all, the machine learning behind Lens is amazing, but it generated some funny results too. Most of the images I show below are the bloopers and show funny results, but it got just as many right. It was actually a lot of fun to run different photos through Lens. Since I have a preview version, the public release may yield different results. I’m still trying to figure out their algorithms to describe an object or photo.

Note: On each of the screen grabs the Original photo is on top, and then the bottom half is what Google Lens thinks it is.

google lens
             EXAMPLE SCREEN GRAB

 

Here are screen grabs from photos run through Google Lens, with insights directly below.

I’m starting with the funniest one. So instead of reading the text that it was honey, it viewed the color and shape to be tequila. LOL

So, Lens basically got the Starbucks cup correct. Even pulled up a stock number. But turn the cup a little bit and forget it.

It’s a ceramic

And yet it read this crazy type correctly.

So I thought Lens would read the text first, but it went for the car instead.

So, at first glance this looks correct, since it read the text. However, the name of the place is “Jersey Freeze” in New Jersey, not “Taste the Best” located in Jamaica NY.

The old dog picture was pretty accurate. Our dog is a Yorkshire. Not sure if she’s a mixed breed, but you never know.

But now our same dog is in the picture and Lens is stumped. I’m surprised at this result. It knew the dog before and Google knows my daughter. It identifies her out all the time when I search for her image.

This is a hit and miss. It got the Starbucks right but it’s a iced coffee, and its not gold deco flakes. I’m surprised it even guessed at the type of drink.

Funny that it says the Google Pixel 2 is a nexus. I mean the green button is so unique.

How could it not know a fidget spinner?

So it got the shoe. But why doesn’t Lens use my location to even go further and say which store it’s from? Just saying.

Again, everyday product that it didn’t recognize.

It knows Apple products, even without the logo.

And it knows Google products too – thank goodness.

This software is fun right now. Soon it will be useful. The algorithms will be finessed and the machine learning will get better. Having the ability to look at an object and describe that the item, is going to be a big deal – soon. Look for the general release soon.

Did Apple sell you an iPhone X or iPhone 10?

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If you’re unaware of the Apple iPhone X pronunciation debate, then tell me if you pronounce the new iPhone X with the alphabet “X” or as the number “10”? No worries because everyone has been confused since the announcement. Some people argue that you say the letter “X,” while others believe the “X” is meant as the roman numeral for 10. For diehard fans it doesn’t matter. They still waited in line for days to get the phone.

Apple has settled the debate once and for all. The company said iPhone X is meant to be pronounced “iPhone 10.” The X marks the company’s 10th anniversary since the first iPhone hit the shelves in 2007.

Here are some hands on shots of the iPhone X from the Apple store today.

apple iphone x

iphone x

iphone x

iphone x wireless charger

“The iPhone X is loaded with high-end hardware and new features”

The iPhone X is loaded with high-end hardware and new features, including multiple cameras, wireless charging and a beautiful display. However, Apple got rid of the home button on the iPhone X and launched a new feature called “Face ID” that unlocks the phone when the user looks at it. But I think everyone is pretty happy.

 

4 really nice things about the iPhone X

iphone xThe sharpest display ever on an iPhone

The iPhone X features a colorful OLED display with more than 2 million pixels. That means sharper text for reading, more impressive video playback and more. Better yet, it has a screen that runs from edge to edge so you get a bigger viewing area without having to carry a larger phone.

 

Facial recognition

You can register your face with the iPhone X so that it automatically unlocks when you look at it. We’ve seen this before in phones such as the Galaxy S8, but Apple says its face unlock uses 3-D imagery that’s even more secure. It says the new tech can’t be fooled by even a professionally made mask of your face, and is more secure than fingerprint locks.

Animoji

This ties in to facial recognition but is fun enough that it deserves its own spot on the list. Apple developed new “Animoji” that allow you to create short clips of your own emotions and send them off as emojis to friends and family. Maybe you’ll make a silly face with the pig emoji, for example: Apple’s facial recognition tech will help the emoji resemble the exact expressions you’re making.

Cameras galore

Wide-Angle Camera

An ƒ/1.8 six-element lens, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a larger, faster 12MP sensor make the most popular camera in the world even better.

Telephoto Camera

Using a state-of-the-art seven-magnet solution, iPhone X includes a second OIS system in the powerful ƒ/2.4 telephoto camera. Together the two cameras enable optical zoom to bring you closer to your subject. And deliver amazing shots with Portrait mode.

The iPhone X has a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a second telephoto lens for zooming. Apple says it offers huge improvements over the cameras we saw in the iPhone 7 Plus, which was the first to offer a telephoto lens. Also expect to see less shaky videos, improved pictures in low light, and more. Also, a new front-facing “TrueDepth” camera is capable of taking those fancy portrait shots that debuted on the iPhone 7 Plus, which create a blurred background bokeh effect that looks much more professional.

Has smartphone technology really peaked?

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I have read several stories this year about the death of the smartphone, and how the technology is tapped out. I initially wrote them off as fake news or just looked the other way in denial. But after seeing the new releases of the Pixel 2, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, I’m really beginning to think they were right. It’s not that these phones aren’t the smartest devices in the world – they are. I mean they are computers in our pocket what the brainpower to fly a ship to the moon. The failure seems to be in the “lack luster” or the interest companies put into the phones. And maybe there isn’t much technology left to pack into these devices, but it’s hard to believe that Apple and Google aren’t introducing some new cool device that beams a holographic image or scans your body for diseases.

pixel 2 While there is plenty of hype and glitz when these phones have launched but they seem to be riddled with issues and glitches. The Pixel 2 has had screen problems and audio issues. The iPhone 8 is really the iPhone 7 for more money.The iPhone X face just looks like a awkward design. For the money that they cost, I think we all want more, or the same for less money. I mean generally speaking were getting new phones every 1-2 years.

iphone xAnd are these companies listening to customer feedback? Most people still want the headphone jacks in their phones. It feels like they are doing technology for the sake of technology  – and to sell us new headphones.

New technology

So are Apple and Google working on anything cool besides VR? Not that VR isn’t cool but AI seems to have more use to a consumer. Here’s a rundown of some of their ventures.

Google is working on Google Lens, which is pretty cool. It’s the best of AI and technology combined. You can scan any thing, any person or data and it tells you what that object is – and files it under people or houses or whatever it is.google lens technology

They are also working on getting the internet to the rest of the world called Project Loon. Project Loon tries to solve this problem by taking it to the stratosphere. By using balloons, Google plans to provide Internet connection to the whole world. It works by acting as a node between the base Internet Service The balloons fly 20 kilometers (around 13 miles) above the ground. And Loons, powered by solar energy, can use the wind in the stratosphere to “sail” across the land.

loon technology

 
Apple has these gems:

Project Titan – this is the Apple car that was rumored, then killed and now seems to be a reality. Apparently, Apple becomes “committed” to a project once the company begins spending huge amounts of money on tools, company acquisitions and other processes. 

“We explore things with teams of people. And that’s a part of being curious,” Tim Cook said.

icar

Apple is looking for the holy grail in healthcare. If it could monitor diseases like diabetes, hundreds of millions would buy what Apple is selling. CNBC reported that, Apple has hired a small team of biomedical engineers to work at a nondescript office in Palo Alto, California, miles from corporate headquarters. They are part of a super secret initiative, initially envisioned by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, to develop sensors that can non invasively and continuously monitor blood sugar levels to better treat diabetes, according to three people familiar with the matter.

iwatch

Levi’s and Google Make a Smart Jacket

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UPDATE:

Well one year later the Levis smart jacket is finally set to be available for purchase. You can buy the jacket for $350 on Levi.com – on October 2nd.



A smart jacket with technology woven in

The infamous jeans maker Levi’s, and tech giant Google, have created a smart jacket to help bicyclists navigate the road. The latest advancement in wearable technology comes in the form of a Levi’s® Commuter™ Trucker jacket designed with Google ATAP’s Project Jacquard technology woven in. With a simple touch of a jacket sleeve, cyclists can wirelessly access their phone and favorite mobile apps to adjust music volume, silence a phone call or get an estimated ETA on their destinations.

The jacket was announced at Google I/O this year, and is the result of a year-long effort between the Levi’s® Innovation team and Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group. The discreetly placed Jacquard technology is literally woven into the jacket, allowing for simple gestures like tapping or swiping on a sleeve to activate functionality. Of course you can wash it, just like you do with any other jacket. This perfect pairing showcases the knowledge and know-how of Google ATAP’s Jacquard team with the performance power of the Levi’s® Commuter line, which is designed to perform as great as it looks.

levi's google smart jacketThe Levi’s® Commuter™ Trucker jacket is expected to be available beginning spring 2017 in select Levi’s® stories and on Levi.com.

Smart jacket by levis google
Google and Levi’s smart jacket

More on Project Jacquard

Project Jacquard makes it possible to weave touch and gesture interactivity into any textile using standard, industrial looms. Everyday objects such as clothes and furniture can be transformed into interactive surfaces.

  • This is possible thanks to new conductive yarns, created in collaboration with our industrial partners.
  • Jacquard yarn structures combine thin, metallic alloys with natural and synthetic yarns like cotton, polyester, or silk, making the yarn strong enough to be woven on any industrial loom.
  • Jacquard yarns are indistinguishable from the traditional yarns that are used to produce fabrics today.

Are Virtual Doctors really the future or medicine?

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virtual doctorSo, you come down with a cold and you want to get a prescription for your cough and stuffy nose. You’ve been down this road 100 times in your life and dread going to the doctors office, waiting an hour in the waiting room, getting everyone else sick, only to get the script you normally get. Why can’t you call or FaceTime a doctor for simple illnesses? Actually, you can, but not many are taking advantage of it yet. Insurance companies see it as a supplemental process, but I suspect it will become more popular as price pushes us towards a virtual doctor.

Virtual doctors and telehealth are becoming popular, but not as quickly as you’d think. There are plenty of start-ups in this area but patients have just haven’t latched on yet. Insurance companies need to raise the awareness and support. Telehealth as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. The technologies include; videoconferencing, the internet, streaming media, and wireless – your phone.

“Patients Using Telehealth Services Will Explode to 7 Million by 2018” – HIT

virtual doctor

Top Telehealth players in the game right now

CareClix

Founded in 2010, CareClix coordinates with board-certified physicians around the world to provide a variety of telehealth services, including high-definition video examinations and remote consultations. CareClix also operates a provider care group, allowing physicians to offer their patients general and specialized services on demand around the clock.

On the patient side, the CareClix platform allows you to file and track claims online. You can also schedule telemedicine visits online and update them anytime through the self-scheduling feature. Visit the site here.

virtual doctorDoctor On Demand

Doctor On Demand takes the house call virtual, making it possible for doctors and patients to connect via live video conferences. Patients can be treated for a range of minor medical conditions, including sore throat, sports injuries, rashes and flu symptoms. In June 2015 the company announced a $50 million funding, designed to allow Doctor On Demand to expand its range of services and grow its customer base in the process. Visit the site here.

MyTelemedicine

Recently named as one of the best entrepreneurial companies in America by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur 360™, MyTelemedicine has emerged as a front runner in the industry. The platform allows patients to call or go online to schedule a consultation with a physician licensed in their state. A triage nurse takes note of their symptoms and updates the patient’s electronic health record. 

The patient consults with the physician, who recommends a treatment plan. There’s no waiting in line at an urgent care facility or emergency room, and you don’t have to miss work to get medical care. In terms of options, patients can speak to a physician, pediatrician or even a behavioral therapist if needed. Visit the site here.

Teladoc

When time is of the essence, Teladoc connects you to the medical advice you need. Patients can speak to a physician via web, phone or mobile app in less than 10 minutes. The company reportedly has more than 17 million members who are served by over 3,600 licensed healthcare professionals, with 20 years of experience on average. Visit the site here.

iCliniq

If you’re looking for a virtual hospital while you’re away from home, look no further than iCliniq. The company offers online access to over 1,500 doctors in more than 80 specialties, and the platform caters specifically to expatriates and travelers. Patients can consult physicians anytime, day or night, and pay a flat fee to get their health questions answered. Visit the site here.

telehealth5 examples of where virtual doctors/telehealth is working

  1. Through a program at Boston-based Partners Healthcare, more than 3,000 congestive heart failure patients used at-home monitoring devices to send updates of their weight, blood pressure and other metrics to Partners. Clinical decision support software then helped identify the patients that needed interventions. The program allowed a panel of three or four nurses to provide care for 250 patients, and ultimately reduced readmissions among the participating patient population by 44 percent while generating cost savings of more than $10 million.
  2. A four-year program run by the Veterans Health Administration combined remote patient monitoring, health informatics and disease management technology to improve care for patients with six chronic conditions ranging from depression to diabetes. In addition to high patient satisfaction scores, the program also achieved a 25 percent drop in bed-days of care and a 19 percent reduction in hospital admissions as compared to traditional care.
  3. Kaiser Permanente dermatologists in San Diego are able to treat more patients by reviewing images and patient information uploaded and sent to them over a secure server by referring physicians, rather than seeing every patient in person. The practice’s physicians now handle 800 cases per month, 50 percent more than if they relied on face-to-face visits.
  4. About 13 percent of all intensive care unit beds in the country are supported by tele-ICU technology. At the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, having trained intensivists provide ICU care remotely resulted in a 20 percent decrease in mortality, a 30 percent drop in lengths of stay and reductions in care costs.
  5. Telemedicine can also help patients adhere to their medication regimes. A randomized trial at the Center for Connected Health, part of Partners Healthcare, showed the use of a wireless pill bottle that reminded patients to take their blood pressure medication increased adherence by 68 percent.

The Bottom Line

These are just a few telemedicine companies out there. The technology is in place and needs more educated consumer/patients to take advantage. Your doctors are already using technology to diagnose. Once the patient population adopts this process a little more, I really think this will be used for 50% of our visits. Frankly, I think it makes sense when used with proper follow-ups. And it’s quite possible the that quality might be better, with a doctor that’s able to give a patient more time. Ask your insurance provider if they offer this service ( I do not get paid for this).

“Hello” iPhone – The evolution over 10 years

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all iphonesThe TV commercial for the iPhone only had one word in the ad – “Hello.” It would be the pinnacle of accomplishment that Steve Jobs had worked his whole life towards. He drove this innovation smart and tough. The association with AT&T was bold, but a neccisity to make the iPhone an exclusive toy. The iPhone became so popular and  it put Blackberry out of business, changed the way we listen to music and ultimately built the house of Apple – the new Apple campus.

TV commercial for the first iPhone – “Hello”

10 years ago today, the tech, phone, and consumer industry changed forever. The iPhone was shipped and in the hands of the consumer. I had the Palm Treo which seemed so magical, but then the iPhone came out and I felt like I had the oldest tech around. It had a full touch screen! No need for buttons – yikes.

treo and iphone

As we near the debut of the new iPhone in September of 2017, the 10 year mark which is today, June 29th, 2017, we are is reminded just how much we love our phones. We have spent billions of dollars and created an empire. Ironically, I have never owned an iPhone, but I love Apple, and I love everything they do for technology and consumerism. I feel compelled to write about the iPhone because it was an invention, not just a phone. I thought I’d let the pictures, videos and charts tell the story.

Steve Jobs made the announcement just 6 months previous to the launch, and the promise of a tech revolution looked real. He stated that…

“Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything … One is very fortunate if you get to work on just one of these in your career. Apple’s been very fortunate. It’s been able to introduce a few of these into the world.”

The evolution of the iPhone (minus the iphone 7)

iphone evolution

iPhone 1 – 2007iphone 1

iPhone 2 – 2008

iPhone 3- 2009

iPhone 4 – 2011

iPhone 5 – 2013

iPhone 6 – 2014

iPhone 7 – 2016

iPhone Fun Facts

Here are some Interesting Facts about this iPhone:

  1. iPhone started as a Tablet Project, but when the Apple employees came up with an iPad design with a virtual keyboard, Steve Jobs thought that they can apply this technology to a phone and this is how, iPhone came into existence.
  2. Exclusive rights for selling the first iPhone were Turned Down by Verizon – (LOL)
  3. Apple, when looking for a carrier partner to sell the first iPhone insisted that the device will only carry the Apple’s Logo and not that of the carrier.
  4. The App Store by Apple was the first online space that offered downloading an app legally.
  5. All the iPhones in the iPhone advertisements show the time 9:41. This is the time when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007.
  6. While Samsung and Apple are the biggest rivals, but not everyone knows that Samsung makes the processors for iPhones.
  7. In 2007, iPhone was awarded as the “Invention of the Year” by Times Magazine.
  8. In 2012, Apple sold 340,000 iPhones per day. A whopping 125 Million iPhones for the year.
  9. Apple’s iPhone has higher sales as compared to everything being sold under the label “Microsoft”.
  10. Apple’s iPhone in Brazil is Twice More Expensive than in the USA.

iphone chart

 

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