Google Profiles

You may have heard of the new Google Profiles. I tried it out the other day by creating a profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/karljlarsen. My LinkedIn page went from being 7th in the search results for my name, up to 1st. Strange how that works.

Android Voice + Touchscreen home computer applicance

I have been thinking lately of wanting a hands off voice activated computing device that could answer / do simple tasks...the times when you don't feel like pulling out your computer or smart phone and googling something. Simple answers like the weather, a sports score, define a word, aren't always worth looking up unless you are already online. The concept is somewhat similar to the Verizon Hub, except the voice control and the Android OS making it an open and customizable and not requiring a contract (just a home internet connection).

What would something like this look like:

• I'm picturing it sitting on a counter or prominent area of the house.
• Possibly using the Android OS from Google to build on existing custom apps and allow the device to be extended easily.
• Voice control is the big thing that seems to be missing as an input. Stepping through hoops to get the info isn't always cool when you need to get other things done. With voice control the touchscreen would be more of a secondary input.

Some other things the device might do:

• Update Facebook status, or Tweet with a couple words.
• Use it as a VoIP phone. Or Video phone with built in Camera.
• Use camera to scan barcodes to get user manual or add items to shopping list.
• Home automation.
• Controlling stereo, or use voice to control song/artist (like the Ford/Microsoft Sync system).
• When the computer is not in use it can serve as a photo frame with rotating pictures, or RSS feeds.

Other thoughts:

As a startup selling a open hardware device, the profit margins doesn't seem to be huge. Ad supported devices may be an option, or some type of subscription (such as the Verizon Hub's $35 fee for unlimited calling VoIP).