Microsoft aims to make your Android lock screen informative with its new app

Earlier this month I got a chance to visit Microsoft India's Hyderabad campus during the two day event- Microsoft India Media Days 2017. The visit was full of exciting discussions around numerous technology driven topics such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Cognitive technologies, Cloud computing and Digital India. The two day event also made it possible to experience the tech giant's experimental outlet- Microsoft Garage, which is a hub for geeks and developers to experiment with modern technology tools to create never before seen hardware and software products. Kaizala app is also a product of Microsoft Garage which is designed for large group communications and work management.

Microsoft Garage team has now announced another app for smartphone users in India. The Favorites Lock Screen app developed for Android smartphone users allows people to craft a more personalized experience centered around the passions and interests they care about. The lock screen app offers you a host of wallpapers and news to keep you aware of the world around you. The lock screen allows users to follow their favorite footballers, cricketers, and actors, past and present music icons, scenic shots, etc.

The replacement lock screen is only available for Android users and can be downloaded from Google Play Store at free of cost. The app also has a search bar that let users search directly from the lock screen without unlocking the phone. A status bar is also added that allows you to access basic settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brightness, Battery, etc. Moreover, you can also customize how to unlock the Android device with lock screen app enabled.

To summarize, the Favorite lock screen app offers HD wallpapers of your favorite celebrities and interests on your lock screen. It keeps you up with the latest news and trends. You can access top apps and settings with a quick tap and unlock your Android phone the way you want by applying a PIN, pattern code, or password.

While this is just one example of Microsoft's Garage applications, the tech giant also showcased several projects that make use of the company's cloud-based artificial intelligence, cognitive services and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. These technologies combine can change the way citizens, enterprises and governments engage in healthcare services, agricultural practices, education and everyday work.

As Microsoft informed media during the meet up, many of these applications are being tested out or used in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Haryana among others.

The company also put the spotlight on use of artificial intelligence in Indian language computing. Among the various AI projects in development, what truly appealed to me was the 'Interactive Cane'. The AI-powered Interactive Cane is designed to aid people with visual impairment.

We at Gizbot enquired about the Intelligent cane's use cases in real-life scenarios. On being asked how the cane can help a visually impaired person in tracking the obstacles such as a tree branch or a pot hole, Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director of Microsoft Research India said, "The cane can be integrated with a number of sensors to help the user in multiple use cases. Microsoft Research is experimenting by adding several sensors to existing canes, and adding gesture recognition to the cane".

Interestingly, Microsoft Research is doing these using sensors added to the cane, and an AI agent on a microcontroller with very low resources on the cane itself, thereby making the cane an intelligent edge device.

Mr Rajamani also informed Gizbot that the cane is just an example, and the Microsoft's AI and sensor technology can be applied on any physical object to make it smart. For instance, a chair with Microsoft's AI can inform the person about the correct posture to live a healthy lifestyle.

Microsoft Garage is gradually turning out to be a hub for technolgy enthusiasts who can change the world with their ideas and technology insights. In the words of Mr. Rajamani, " We are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology to benefit society. We are committed to ensure that technology is defining and shaping the future, and is a combination of unbridled innovation and digital inclusion".

This is just a sneak peek of Microsoft's AI and cloud technology. We will keep a close eye on tech giant's future endeavors that has the power to bring a change in the way we humans live. Stay tuned on Gizbot.