Google Stadia: Cloud based game streaming platform

Google Stadia: Cloud based game streaming platform

Google revealed its cloud-based game streaming platform named Stadia at a conference in San Francisco. It, also, revealed its own game studio-Stadia Games and Entertainment. Stadia games and entertainment will develop games exclusively for Stadia. Stadia is the first gaming platform which Google has developed with game streamers in mind. Streamers can stream right to YouTube with the dedicated button on Google’s own Stadia controller.

Stadia, is a cloud based gaming platform that will bring gamers, developers, streamers and YouTubers together. Stadia will challenge the big names in gaming market with a vision to provide high quality games which have been played on video game consoles and PCs. 

Developers can make multiplayer games that can work across multiple devices such as laptops, PCs, TVs, tablets and smartphones. In order to speed up the development of games Google will work with both big and small developers.

According to Google, Stadia runs on Linux operating system. Therefore games compatible with Linux will be easier to port to Stadia. Stadia will support 4k streaming at 60 frames per second. Google has its vast data centres which will support the cloud that can handle the processing of games at 4k resolution.

Having the advantage of cloud it is easier for gamers to access Stadia without the need of any physical disc or downloads. Cloud gaming has a lot of appeal as there is no need to download gigabytes of data, which helps in reducing all sorts of loading and downtime that comes into play while playing a traditional video game.

For Stadia, Google has its own game controller which comes with a dedicated button for Google assistant powered voice features and capture video of your game play. The controller connects directly to Google’s data centre, therefore, you won’t need to re-sync it to the laptop or to other devices.

Google wants to change the traditional video gaming market with Stadia by providing users with lag free gaming experience. Since, taking the contribution from all kind of developers, not only will it amlify creatvity but also, it means for users there will be tons of game options. All in all, Stadia could be a game changer for Google.

Google enters in Indian primary education market with Bolo- a speech recognition app that helps kids to learn and read

Google language learning app

The tech giant, Google is expanding its suite of apps with the learning app aimed for primary school children in India, called Bolo. The language learning app-Bolo is for primary school children in the country in an effort to cement its grip on the world’s fastest growing internet market.

The app leverages Google’s speech recognition technology to help children figure out reading in both Hindi and English. Bolo-the Hindi word for “speak” features a range of games and tasks, including an index of 50 stories in Hindi and 40 Stories in English sourced from storyweaver.org.in. The app rewards kids as they progress in their reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.

How the app works?

Bolo, which is powered by Google text-to-speech technology, first asks kids to read sentences. Then the app listens and reviews it, with the help of voice assistant called Diya. Diya can speak English as well as Hindi, and will give compliments to kids who finishes the assignments.

With the rise in use of smartphones in India, Google is looking for spreading its presence in the country. This has advantageous rural area students as it helps them in enhancing their reading skills.

What is so unique about the app?

Bolo app is aimed at helping kids who are unable to go to school or does not access to it. What’s works more in the favor is, that the app can work in offline mode as well. This has proved advantageous because children get less distracted while using the app.

So what’s in store for students…

  • Enhance reading skills in Hindi and English
  • Interactive and instant feedback
  • Encourages reading habits with text-to-speech technology
  • Words games and in-app rewards to keep students motivated

Few words from Google source-

“We believe technology has the power to help transform teaching and learning, and have been actively directing our products, programs and philanthropy to ensure that all students are able to benefit from it,” Google said.

Let us look at Bolo’s technical aspects.

  • The app is completely free. Yes you heard it right. Also the app can be used without signing-in to an active Google.
  • The reading material in Bolo app is free. In future, you may get more content as Google is working with more third party companies. Currently, Bolo app comes with 50 Hindi and 40 English stories.
  • Bolo app required less than 50 MB storage space in your mobile phone.

Wrapping up!

Google’s entering in India’s education market which involves about 1.5 million schools with 250 million understudies, has tremendous growth and is attracting big bucks. Yet another edutech giant-Byjus offers a learning app for students and those preparing for college. Microsoft has likewise made a push on this front. Furthermore, Facebook this week launched an online education site — called We Think Digital — to help around 1 million individuals in the Asia-Pacific region think critically and be progressively attentive about things they share on the web.