Fifth Blog: Google Puts Money on Robots, Using the Man behind Android

 

Summary

The article “Google Puts Money on Robots, Using the Man behind Android” was written by John Markoff and published on December 4, 2013. Markoff talks about Google inventing a robot that delivers packages to front doors off an automated Google car. Google executives believe that this job is nearly impossible but Amazon proposed a new drone delivery service that delivers books by a drone; which wasn't impossible to imagine so Google is positive about the invention of new robots.

Over the last half-year, Google has acquired seven technology companies that will put these new generations of robots into play. The engineer behind this effort is Andy Rubin, who built Google’s Android. Google is not aiming this new technology towards consumers, instead they are targeting in manufacturing, for example, electronics assembly. Andy Rubin says that we need at least 10 year’s worth of time and vision on our hands.

Google has already started making personal deliveries of the shopping service to places like Target, Walgreens, and American Eagle Outfitters. This service is available in some urban areas like San Francisco. Markoff talks about Google making home personal delivery system one day but that all depends on humans, he says.

Mr. Rubin is a 50-year-old executive that is in charge of the robotics project. He claims to have history in making his hobbies into careers. In the 1990s, Andy was a robotics engineer for the company Carl Zeiss. He is passionate for building intelligent machines. Andy has a vision of building something like the windshield wiper that has enough “intelligence” when it rains. The co-founder of Google, Larry Page, shares the same vision as Andy and feels that humans should be free from drudgery and repetitive tasks.

Mr. Rubin has stepped down as the head of the company’s Android smartphone division so that he and the co-founder of Google Mr. Page can venture into this idea. Mr. Rubin was comparing this project to the company’s self-driving project. He said the automated car project was science fictions and now it is coming within reach. The only problem that he claims he’s going to encounter is the need of having a breakthrough for areas like software and sensors.

Andy has acquired an array of robotics and artificial intelligence start-up companies in the United States and Japan. Among those companies is Schaft. It has a small team of Japanese robotics who left Tokyo University to develop a humanoid robot, and Industrial Perception, a project that includes the development of computer vision systems and robot arms for loading and unloading trucks. The makers of humanoid robots and robot arms in San Francisco called Meka and Redwood Robotics was also acquired. Bot & Dolly, a maker of robotic camera systems, used their invention in the movie Gravity; Andy also acquired Autofuss and Holomni.

Andy talks about acquiring more companies to build this robot but discusses how these previous seven companies has what it takes to partake in this creation of robots. Andy isn’t too sure about where he wants to begin this new project; within Google or somewhere else. The robotics groups, however, will initially be in Palo Alto. Andy has already started hiring robotics and bringing in other Google programmers that are going to be of help.

Opinion

In my opinion, I believe that this is a great new invention. Google is coming up with new ways of making life easier for humans. A lot of repetitive tasks that takes place in our daily lives are not going to be a factor in the future. Google isn’t too sure who they want their consumers to be for this invention but I feel that it going to be a breakthrough for mankind.

As great as this new invention is, I feel that machines are going to take over the roles of workers and a lot more people will be unemployed because of this. They are designing automated delivery systems through robots to complete repetitive tasks and replacing people with machines.

Questions/feedback

           1.      What do you think about Google’s new robotic invention?

           2.      Do you feel that unemployment rates are going to get higher?

Reference:

Picture and article retrieved from:

John Markoff. (2013, December 4). Google Puts Money on Robots, Using the Man behind Android.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/technology/google-puts-money-on-robots-using-the-man-behind-android.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Fourth Blog: WORK-AT-HOME PROFILE: GOOGLE EMPLOYMENT

Summary

            According to the author the Google Company is based in Mountain View, CA with 60 offices around the world. This is the fabulous work place with perk. The employs get the best facilities at the work place for example; yoga, massage, doctor, dentist etc.

          

                 Google provides very less work-at-home opportunities to the employs. They can provide only the temporary positions through the temporary agencies not the permanent positions. Lot of employs wants to do work-at-home but unfortunately they don’t have too many positions. Even for work-at-home position hired through Workforce logic not through Google. They need people with fluent in English or other foreign language. Even these positions are for only 9 months with only 10-20 hours per week.  The temp employs have the responsibilities including the evaluating the accuracy of the web advertising and communicating of web layouts and the information about the online tools.

Personal opinion:

            Google is the huge company with 60 offices in the whole world. They are providing the best facilities to their employs. They have very less opportunities for the employs who wants to work-at-home which is unfair according to me.

            If Google is providing the opportunity to the full time employs then they should proving at least half of the opportunity to the temp position employs. I personally don’t like the employment period of time with working for them. I believe some people are more efficient to work from home rather than at work place. I would say if they can create more work for temporary employs then it would be the great opportunity for temporary labor which they can do it.

Feedback:

                 1.      What is your opinion for the work-at-home jobs? Do you like to work from home or at work                place?

          2.      Do you have ideas to create the part time jobs or work-at-home positions?

Reference:

Written by Laureen Miles Brunellj. Work –at-home profile: Goggle Employment

http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/companieshiringwahms/p/google.htm

BLOG #3: GOOGLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

SUMMARY

The article “Google Products and Services” was written by Vangie Beal and posted on December 22, 2006. In his article he mentioned in 1996, Google started out as a research project by Larry Page a Sergey Brin, two college students. They made their own computer with the purchased Disk at the bargain price. In 1999, the Beta logo came off the website. Then after their success, Google expanded their business with Blogging, mapping, shopping, research and more.

Google is famous with the search, search services and applications; also it called “perfect search engine”. With the help of Google you can search so many things just by typing the few words; also it can provide you the further links for the explanations. You can access them by clicking “more” on the search page.

The major search criterion on Google is: Book Search, Catalogs, Calculator, Currency exchange in which you can get the value of the currency in other currency. Definitions is the very quick search engine where we can search for anything, you can easily get the explanation of the word or the meaning. You can do shopping on Google products, images will be easily found on the Google. You can do local search, watch movies, listen to music, you can easily get news headlines. Google provides you the facility to find the person information with the help of the phone number or you can easily get the full address just by typing few words for the address. Google can help you find the weather conditions in all countries; you can use the spelling checker or so many further features.

There are few features of online communications for example, bloggers is the main medium of the communication where people can update their daily blogs and it is very easy to use with free services. Another is Page creator, which is the free Web page, provided by Google. Gmail webmail is the software by an ISP that provides the user name and password where you can communicate via emails. Google talks and Google groups are other examples for Google communications.

           Other features that are available are free software and Google mobile services. Google calendar is one of the most recent additions. This service allows you to organize any event for any time of the year. If you own a Gmail account, you can set up events through your email. There are many features that are available through your phone. By going on the Google browser, you are able to search the web, images, etc. A great new feature that’s also available is the Internet Explorer 7 optimized for Google. It allows the person to personalize their Google homepage, the Google toolbar, and also sets Google as the default search engine.

          Along with the free software and Google mobile services, they have offered Google desktop, Picasa, Google pack, Google docs and spreadsheets, and Google mobile. Each of these new features allows you to use Google to a whole other level. All these new apps make using the internet faster and efficient.

PERSONAL OPINION

          After reading this article I found anyone could start business as a student; the only thing is hard work and intentions of being a good worker. As a student Larry Page and Sergey Brin started Google as researchers and they made Google so successful that today if anyone wants to search anything, Google will come in very handy. So many searching features made our life so comfortable and smooth we don’t need to ask for help while searching. With the help of Google we can make our full trip cost cheaper as they have full competitor feature. Now we don’t need to have calculator, books, phone numbers, and address notebooks handy we can use Google to have useful information. Google can help us to find best place for shopping with competitor rates.

          Google is coming in very handy with all the new features it’s coming out with. I find that I can get an answer for anything that I search for with the help of Google. Google has become the perfect search engine for me. No other search engine comes to mind when I need to browse the web. The most important feature for me other than the search engine is Google Maps. I use Google maps for any address/location that I need to find.

Questions/feedback:

1.    How helpful is Google for you?

2.    Do you use any Google apps through your phone?

3.    Would you prefer using Hotmail or Gmail?

Reference:

Vangie Beal. (2006, December 22). Google Products and Services

 Retrieved from: http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/Google_Services.asp

Second Blog: Google- Overview, Company Culture and history By Laura Schneider

Summary:

                        ”Google Overview, Company Culture and History” has been article written by Laura Schneider. According to this article Google.Inc was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, when they were studying in school in September, 1998 in friend’s garage. Google participated in raising $1.67 billion in August. Also, Google provided 12, 000 jobs for people throughout the world. Google’s mission statement was “work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun”. Google.Inc is the ideal place to work for MBA students and Google was the number 1 employer in 100 Best Companies to Work For.

Google is a high-energy and has a fast-pace environment; just like a work hard and play hard atmosphere. It’s a campus where employees are well treated by the employers. This technique encourages the employees to work hard and give their best to achieve the goal.

Google has offices in several states where they currently have hundreds of jobs openings. The author, Laura Schneider counted openings in 57 worldwide locations, not including those in the United States. Google prefers to have software engineers, C++ and java programmers. Currently they have operations and IT openings including System Administrator and Help desk technician. Google is also welcoming college graduates for both internship and full time employment.

According to the author, Google provides base salaries to the employees but on the other hand they are providing the additional benefits including stocks options ,extensive benefits, normal health and welfare benefits, vacation days and holidays, flexible hours, child care centers, free shuttle and many more benefits and facilities.

Google.Inc has the official Blog written by staff members from the different departments. Google has a philanthropic organization, as seen at Google.org, aimed to provide the solution for the global problems facing in the world. 

Google has become a part of everyone’s life; providing information for people. Google appreciates their employees by having tons of perks available for their employees. Google believes that appreciation is the best motivation. Google makes it clear that their employees know that they’re loved. There are many benefits available to the employees.

            People from all around the world use Google products. It is the technology leader in organizing the world’s information. Google provides lunch to all of their employees free of charge. There are many challenges yet to solve and Google is looking forward to meeting all new people with amazing new ideas.

 Opinion:

            According to me, Google is the first organization that provides the solution for every problem. Google is a huge company founded by 2 students. Google provides a great platform to the MBA students. This company makes the employees comfortable so they can put their efforts and hard work to achieve the goal. With a comfortable environment they provide them lot of benefits that can attract and force them to work there and give their all for Google.

            According to me, Google’s policy towards the work “ take work as a challenge and take challenge as fun” is a very good policy and makes the employees work well because if we take our work as a burden then no one will be ready to take that burden. There are no restrictions for a dress code because it is the best feature of the employees and employees don’t want to spend their salary on a dress code or the uniform. The special attractions for example, cafe, snacks rooms, nap rooms etc. give them a peaceful and enjoyable work environment.

            Google’s compensation and benefits are almost same like the other major companies. According to me, Google’s strategy “basic salary with the lots of benefits” is the best combination. I believe anyone will go for this job with the basic salary.

             I personally agree with everything that the author is saying. There is no other search engine that I rely on the way that I do with Google. Google is looking for so many people that have creative areas and that will help them solve all of the unsolved mysteries.

            Millions of people are provided with the information that they need from Google each month. Google appreciates their employees by creating a fun and an inspiring environment for everyone. I personally would be delighted to work for Google because the employees are provided with a lot of benefits and a lot of perks available for them while they are working.

Questions/ feedback

1.                      How satisfied are you with Google’s search facility?

2.                     Are you willing to work in such company where they offer you the basic salary with the other benefits?

3.                     Is Google the first search engine that you think about when you have a question to ask?

Reference:

Laura Schneider. 2014. Google Overview, Company Culture and History

      http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/companyprofiles/a/google.htm

Google

First Blog: Looking for a Lesson in Google's Perks.

Summary:

1. Looking for a Lesson in Google’s Perks by James B. Stewart, was published at The New York Times on March 15, 2013.
2. James B Stewart made the comparison between yahoo's employees and the Google's employees and the working criteria between both the companies.
3. According to the Author, Google's philosophy is to make the work place the happiest and the most productive in the whole world.
4. As James mentioned Mr. Newman, 27 years old, who has his PhD in industrial and organizational psychology made Google’s working environment in the best interest of the employees.
5. James mentioned some special attractions like the library, silent room, play stations, napping areas, and dining areas.
6. The author also mentioned that Google lets the employees design their own desk. They can scribble on the walls to express their thoughts.
7. Also James mentioned Dr. Welle saying that they are not trying to be parents but they care about the employees health because research shows that when people cognitively engage with food, they make the better choice.
8. Google wants to give the best environment to work and to live.
9. The author mentions Mr. Nevill-Manning saying that “Google’s success depends on innovation and collaboration.”
10. James mentions a 32 year old Allison Mooney who had great things to say about Google, for example, she said that people actually have a life outside of their work at Google.
11. Allison mentions a number of perks available at Google, such as, once-a-week eyebrow shaping, yoga, etc.
12. There is no gym available at the Manhattan location but there is one available for the employees at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California.
13. James talks about his visit to Teresa Amabile where she says that people have to actually be motivated by the work itself in order for them to be creative.
14. James talks about Ben Waber, who works for Sociometric Solutions and he mentions that in order to shape a community, you have to be there for people, and in your time of need, someone will be there for you.
15. Both experts do not agree with Yahoo bringing in employees from home; the employees might feel like you do not trust them.
16. Amabile thinks that Marissa might have made a mistake by not being clear enough when reaching out to her employees about getting together and experiencing creative excitement.
17. James talks about Google never keep track of which employee is at work or not. However, they do have your responsible for your own work schedule with your team.
18. Ms. Mooney loves her job at Google. Even when she tried to take a day off, she ended up right back at work. People aren’t forced to come in, they want to come in.        

Opinion:

After reading the article written by the James B. Stewart, I personally believe that Google’s working environment is a very good and an interesting environment to work where the employees have been taken care of by the employers. I am very much fond of Jordan Newman’s philosophy, “to create the happiest, most productive workplace in the world” because every employee wants to work in a place where there will be no restrictions and the working environment is just like the home environment.

Also I believe that the educated management can be more understanding of the employee’s psychology rather than the uneducated management but I can’t ignore the exceptional cases. As an employee I always want to work in the caring company where the employer can understand your situation and takes care of you. I would love to work in the company where I can get a office that will be designed by me. Also it will have my favorite stuff. I will enjoy working in this environment. In this way no one can get frustrated or irritate by the environment.

Also there are so many interesting parts of Google e.g. Library, play stations napping place dining areas; I believe no one can neglect that working place. I would be exceptionally happy knowing that there are so many ways to just relax and unwind at Google. There are numerous activities provided at Google, example yoga, once-a-week eyebrow shaping, and so on. People need to take times out of their busy work life to relax a bit and do some physical exercise. For someone that cares about her health a lot, I feel that this is the most beneficial way of keeping healthy and to cope with my daily stress.

As we all know that “the health choices are front-loaded”. I believe having lots of healthy stuff doesn’t matter in a working environment but if the employer provides this in the company, it will make a different impact in the employee’s point of view. Just like the author mentioned that Google provides the healthier stuff like almonds, peanut etc; it shows the caring nature towards the employees. Also, according to Dr. Welle, we will consume more if that is visible. So in short, if Google wants work from the workers/employees it also takes care of the health of the employee as well. I believe this is the best policy to take honest work from the workers/employees.

Learning about all of the advantages at Google, I definitely do envy how they get treated as employees. Google doesn’t feel the need to track down every employee and set out rules for each and every worker. They allow the workers to make their own work schedule and they are very flexible. If I were to compare Yahoo and Google, I would say that Google is way well off. They have more to offer as a company to the public and as well as to their employees.

I don’t think Yahoo should force their employees into the office. Google doesn’t feel like the need in doing that because Google’s employees deliver their work and they have a system that everyone follows. People enjoy what they do at Google because Google gives them their space and allows them to express their thoughts by scribbling on the walls. Yahoo wants authority over what their employees are doing because they feel that that’s the best thing for Google right now.

Questions/feedback:

1. If you had the opportunity to work at Google, would you leave your current job and join Google?
2. Do you think it’s important for jobs to provide perks like Google? E.g., yoga, Pilates, and other physical exercise during free times?
3. Do you agree that Yahoo bringing all their employees together will benefit the company?
4. Do you think that every employee should have control over their own work schedules and how they deliver their work?
5. Google pushes the boundaries in its workplace. Do you think that employees are given too much freedom?
6. Do you feel that it’s important to have your workplace shaped like a community?

If I were ever given the opportunity to work at Google, I would take it in a heartbeat. Google actually respects their employees and leaves it completely up to them to get work done, wherever they want to get it done from. There are many perks provided at Google, therefore you don’t actually have to leave your workplace and go out of your way. Physical activity is provided at Google and keeping fit and healthy is very important.

Reference:

James B. Stewart. (2013, March 15). Looking for a Lesson in Google's Perks.

Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/business/at-google-a-place-to-work-and-play.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&\