The world after the Pokemons

We do not even notice how widespread the augmented reality already is in our lives. It can be seen during sporting events (TV shows the trajectory of a projectile after kick) and on online maps (Google View).

It is difficult to imagine now how humanity coped when neither search engines nor online translators and online maps existed. Today, provided one has access to the Internet, one can easily find out which hospitals, libraries, schools or museums are nearby. Google Ukraine’s “Digital Transformation of Ukraine” project has enabled us to virtually travel to places well in advance of actually visiting them. Digital journeys to Lviv, Rivne, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions are already available, and Ivano-Frankivsk and Kropyvnytsky will follow soon.

Moreover, Google Ukraine’s public relations manager Maryna Tarasova believes that despite the fact that information on the Internet is increasingly abundant, a defining feature of the modern world is the competition over access to information. Therefore, she advises businesspeople to mark their establishments on the map and add descriptions with basic information such as opening hours or phone numbers.

Photo by Ruslan KANIUKA, The Day

However, new technologies can be dangerous. By simplifying people’s lives, they can make us more vulnerable to the problems of the real world. This warning has been sounded lately by many futurists, including, for instance, Alvin Toffler. However, Tarasova is convinced that the fears are unfounded. Companies that are working with the augmented reality, including Google, are aware of their responsibility and their principal mission: to use technology to make people’s lives easier and more comfortable. During a meeting in our editorial office with participants of the Summer School of Journalism, Tarasova revealed her opinions of how the world would change under the influence of the IT and to what degree Ukrainians were prepared for these challenges.

Maria CHADIUK, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy: “Google is one of those corporations which prepare humanity for a new era of high technology. How do you assess the current preparedness of Ukraine?”

“Ukraine is prepared. Regarding the development of technology, we are in the Top 10 countries of the EMEA. The latter is the region which includes Europe, Africa and the Middle East. According to the most recent data, Internet penetration in Ukraine is over 60 percent. We have very high use of smartphones. Ukraine still surprises us with growing numbers of users of new technologies. I can prove it by the example of YouTube: usage of this video application of ours grows 50 percent a year worldwide, and 70 percent a year in Ukraine. Our society shows a willingness to grow even in the difficult economic and political situation which we have to endure currently.

“According to the latest figures for July 2016, about 83 percent of YouTube users in Ukraine use it at least once a week, and more than 55 percent do so every day. People are actively exploring technologies. Already, 49 percent of our users prefer smartphones for watching videos.

Cartoon by Pawel KUCZYNSKI

“Ukraine is one of the most developed countries in terms of broadband Internet. You may notice when traveling in Europe that it is very hard to find decent Internet there.”

Alla DUBROVYK-ROKHOVA: “Does Google analyze content which Ukrainian users look for? Can you refute belief that users are getting dumber worldwide? In particular, what is the situation in Ukraine?”

“I think that were people to use more time to consume entertainment content, the world would see fewer wars, murders, and other disasters. As for content, if one looks at the Top 10 Ukrainian channels and the most popular topics, they are all entertainment-based, yes, but they are quite diverse. They include quite high-brow humor and a lot of music. Ukraine really lives up to its image of a song-loving country and the winner of Eurovision.

“Uniquely, a majority of Ukrainian TV channels are willingly posting their content on YouTube. Moreover, they use our platform as an additional resource, for example, to release scenes not included in the broadcast version of a talk show. And they have an active audience that is interested in this content.

“Speaking of YouTube, this platform is interesting because there everyone can find their niche, something appealing to their interests. The Top 5 Ukrainian YouTube channels include the Do It Yourself section, which I believe to be important. We have truly unique YouTube characters. A shoemaker from southern Ukraine shows his work via his own YouTube channel, and it has thousands of followers. Another striking example is the channel launched by a few female knitters from Kryvy Rih. We are very proud that talented people can use our resources to promote themselves and their work. Now, these knitters from Kryvy Rih have four channels on YouTube using different languages. They are demonstrating the technique of crochet knitting and show their products. People from more than 200 countries watch their channels. I see it as a phenomenon that once again reminds us that the Internet is a barrierless space.

“Also, network users take active interest in the ordinary lives of others. Children are especially popular. For example, we have Mister Max and Miss Katy channels: parents of a little boy and a little girl from Odesa record the daily lives of their children and post it online. For me, these are very positive channels since they talk about how to simply live and enjoy life. Also, people borrow special features and traditions from each other.”

“MOST HACKING PROBLEMS SHOULD BE BLAMED ON USERS THEMSELVES”

Anna HOLISHEVSKA, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv: “How correct is the assertion that in some countries, including Russia, Google has been forced to allow security services access to Gmail mailboxes?”

“We have a transparent system. Gmail, like YouTube, is subject to the laws of the US. I can tell you nothing about Russia, because I work in the Ukrainian office. When we get an access request for someone’s mailbox, we refer them to our head office in America. Lawyers consider this issue there.

“Our published report said that of the nine requests for access to mailboxes that the company has received from law-enforcement agencies, none has received a positive response.”

Oksana KOVAL, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv: “How many hackers or other malicious actors are trying to crack the electronic mailboxes? Do you have information that would show which mailboxes they try to crack?”

“Google mailboxes use a two-step authentication system. Not only is your mail protected with a password, but you also have to confirm entry with a mobile phone number. If the mail is coming from unknown devices, you get this message on your phone at once. This is a fairly reliable system.

“Most hacking problems should be blamed on users themselves, who have scant respect for their security. Use of easy-to-solve passwords or the same password for all accounts are among the most common causes of mailboxes getting cracked.

“There is a simple rule: behave in the virtual world just like you do in the real one. After all, you would not hang your bikini photos on your home’s front door.”

Khrystyna SOLTYS, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv: “Does Google intend to develop a mechanism for identifying trolls, which would help the user to tell whether a comment is truthful?”

“Yes, it is true that the technology is used not only for development, but also for personal benefit. But people always sense truth and lie.

“The modern world appeals to me with its freedom of decision. You choose the final product. The choice is yours, while Internet technology only helps to make this choice. We live in a world of subjectivism. Everyone gets a lot of information, analyzes it, and chooses for oneself what is suitable.”

“MODERN WORLD DEMANDS THAT WE ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR CHANGE”

Maryna SNIZHYNSKA, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy: “The Pokemon GO game has gained huge popularity. There are predictions that it will have impact on the further development of virtual space and its active integration in real life. How do you see the life after the Pokemons? Was Google involved in the creation of the game?”

“My personal opinion is that this is just a new fad. I remember Ingress being extremely popular some years ago. It used the same approach: people ran around the town and grabbed some locations.

THE POKEMON GO SMARTPHONE CONSOLE IS BREAKING ALL RECORDS OF POPULARITY – IT IS NOW USED EVEN MORE OFTEN THAN INSTAGRAM. IN THE FIRST THREE DAYS, THE POKEMON GAME DESIGNING COMPANY, NINTENDO, EARNED ABOUT 8 BILLION DOLLARS. NOW ITS VALUE HAS GONE UP TO $42.5 BILLION / REUTERS photo

“I am always happy when something new appears. In today’s world of postmodernism, when everything is a quotation and nothing is new, it is very difficult to find something that will impress so many people. The Pokemons is something new, a case of good use of modern technologies. This is an example of a successful combination of good ideas and good implementation of new technologies.

“I do not have information about Google’s involvement in creation of the Pokemon GO game.”

A.D-R.: “Is it possible that people will someday abandon the real world and completely immerse themselves in the world of virtual reality? Are the Pokemons a kind of rehearsal, the IT world’s successful test drive of humanity’s interest in virtual reality?”

“I do not agree with this assertion. I do not like the phrase ‘virtual world’ either, and think it is better to talk about the augmented reality. Future lies that way. For many years already, people debate how cities will look like in the future. I like the idea that one will be able to walk around and see the virtual signs on stores or restaurants, telling people right away what the chef is offering or where the sale is being held on this street.

“The modern world and the world of the future are defined by the competition for the chance to provide one’s information to the consumer. Any technology offers another way to do it. I am glad that in the modern world, it is businesses that are interested in using these technologies. The Pokemons show that many businesses have jumped at the opportunity. And I expect that they will start building cities of the future based on the augmented reality very soon.

“I do not share the stereotype that people somehow get detached from the reality, for young people display, including through abovementioned YouTube channels, their willingness to live a real life, to have fun, communicate with each other.

“What I like in modern youths is their disregard for race, age, ethnic barriers. They are ready to communicate with people according to their interests. YouTube shows it very clearly. Everyone finds their niche. Children are interested in science, I mean applied science. There are many channels offering various physical and chemical experiments. We have very popular channels that practically answer the question ‘What do we need physics for?’ They have many followers. I had my internal stereotypes demolished myself when I saw that when you communicate with top creators, they would not take much time to talk about themselves, but would tell what and where they learned, what other channels they advise to watch instead. And it is an indicator of the modern world, which is ready to change. Successful people are always ready to change.”

“THE SOCIETY OF THE FUTURE WILL BE A SEARCH SOCIETY”

O.K.: “Do you see the fact that today’s user can get lost in the abundance of information as a problem? How is one to find filters, including in the Internet information space?”

“I think that alternative views have the right to exist. I did, do, and will do everything I can so that this world will have the freedom of choice. I believe that humanity is reasonable, that we are moving towards a bright future, and that technology will help us on this path. If a person has a choice, they are responsible for it.

“The society of ready answers is a society of the past. The society of the future will be a society of open questions, open search fields. Search is a permanent condition of the modern human being. You are always looking where to go, always looking for new knowledge, new information, new friends, discoveries etc.”

Oksana VOITKO, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv: “In 2014, the American and Russian offices of Google marked separation of Crimea from Ukraine on their maps. At the same time, Google in Ukraine made clear that ‘Crimea is Ukraine!’ Please tell us, how are such policy decisions made? Is someone punished if such conflicts occur?”

“All important political decisions are taken after a long discussion with local companies. However, the final decision always lies with the head office.

“Our chief objective is to show objective reality in the virtual world. It looks one way from Ukraine, but it is different from the wider world’s standpoint.”

Kh.S.: “GoogleGlass offers additional features. What is the likelihood of this product being imported to Ukraine?”

“Honestly, we have not even attempted to import GoogleGlass. The Ukrainian office of Google does not offer this device. According to the laws of Ukraine, this product must be certified. We have no such need because the device is not in serial production yet.”

M.Ch.: “Google occasionally makes Ukraine-themed doodles. Are you planning to release one to mark the 25th anniversary of Independence?”

“I am personally involved with it. But it has to come as a surprise, so I cannot discuss it in detail.”

Maria MATIAZH: “Who is admitted for internship in the office of Google, and how one can get there?”

“Google was founded by students. Thus, we have a lot of programs targeting precisely students. A quarter of the Ukrainian office’s personnel are interns. We have a special blog for students where all news related to programs and summer internships in the company are posted. All our offices have posted open positions, anyone can apply. But remember that although grades have lost their value in Ukraine, Google selects only people with good grades, for the Western world sees them as a measure of one’s success and responsibility.”