Google launches smart spoon shaking hands liftware

Title: Google launches smart spoon shaking hands liftware

 http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/25/google-launches-smart-spoon-shaking-hands-liftware

Summary:

This article is about how Google’s expansion from drones, self-driving cars, robots to balloons providing internet has now has stretched to a smart spoon to their line of hi-tech products.  The smart spoon is a liftware spoon, which uses hundreds of algorithms to sense how a hand is shaking and make instant adjustments in order to stay balanced. The spoon is targeting a demographic of people with essential tremors and Parkinson’s diseases. Google had acquired Lift lab, the makers of the spoon, earlier this year, with the founder, Anupam Pathak, now working for Google X’s life science division. This division also owns a stake in DNAnexus, which is a software company analysing genome sequencing to better understand the genetic factors of heart disease and ageing. It is also working on how nanoparticles in blood might help detect diseases and a smart contact lens that would measure glucose levels in tears to help diabetics track their blood sugar levels.  

Facts/Phrases:

Ø  The product is aimed at people with essential tremors and Parkinson’s disease and, according to the company, can reduce shaking of the spoon bowl by an average of 76%.

Ø  Essential tremors and Parkinson’s disease affect more than 10 million people worldwide, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s mother. Brin has also said he has a genetic mutation associated with higher rates of Parkinson’s. He has donated more than $50m to research for a cure.

Ø  The spoons are now available for $295.

Opinion:

In my opinion, this article shows the development of new and digital media has led to the growth of Google as the most dominant media institution and growing at a rapid rate, this evident from Google moving from the search engine industry to the vehicle and medical industry.