Google took a patent for a device that can record our memories into a video database of our lives, allows us to search through it and play the recordings at a later time. The videos will be recorded through Google Glass or through some other wearable technology developed by Google in the future.
The idea of recording our memories might sound like science fiction, however the method actually employed by Google is rather simple. This will be just a far more advances version of the technology already used by Google Glass records the world surrounding us from our perspective.
Many of us might still remember the TV series called 'Black Mirror' where it was portrayed a world in which we could record and replay our memories. Google is a step closer to transform that world into reality.
The video stream recorded by Google's gadget could be sent to your smartphone and then uploaded to the cloud. Users of Google's device will be able to use voice control in order to search through the video database library and 'recall' any past memories. The only limiting factor to this method that is already technically possible in principle, is the way our memories would be recorded.
In the past, Google Glass gadget already came under heavy criticism for its portable digital camera that could record anything is going around it with little indication. Some users are concerned on privacy matters and intrusion into their private lives. To this criticism came to add the recent scandal surrounding Google Photos app, that continues to save and store user's photos online long after the application is deleted form the smartphone.
Google's new memory recording technology is still in the developmental stages. Company's designers are trying to find a way in which it can turn the Google smart-glasses into a product that's morally trustworthy as much as forward-thinking.
Being able to record your own life can come with enormous implications, as well as a strong emotional impact on the users of this technology. Before Google's project can move to mass production, there are still some technological challenges to be overcome.
First, in order to record the footage, Google needs to make use of ultra-small optics. Second, in order to store an entire day's worth of footage, Google needs to employ a storage device that's both portable enough and big enough. However, in case that Google will choose to make available only the option to stream and save the footage directly to cloud servers, the need for a portable high volume storage device would be avoided.
Google and other high-tech companies are working already on designing contact lenses that provide us 'superhuman sight'. As advances in technology make possible a further miniaturization of circuitry and optics, it is seemingly just a matter of time until these reality enhancing contact lenses will finally come on the market.
