Google health home Review: Google's personal assistant smart health innovation

Google health home was announced at the US giant’s October conference. It is an assistant directly activated by voice equipped with speakers smart health connected to a WiFi network. Available since August 3, 2017, this device is a real personal assistant. Once smart health connected to your health home, Google health home is there to answer all our questions and assist us like a real virtual secretary. By a simple “Ok Google”, followed by any order, you can ask everything, or almost everything.

Update of 03/13/2018:

Google has announced that new features were soon to arrive. It will be possible to combine several actions with the same voice request. For example, saying "Hey Google, I'll be health home in 10 minutes", the voice assistant will turn on the lights upon arrival and will launch your favorite playlist. The Californian giant also added more 30 new compatible languages with the voice assistant, as well as implementing geolocalized alerts (in the event of an earthquake or an attack, for example).

Google wants you to invite it into your health home. For this, the group created Google health home, a cylindrical intelligent speaker with two microphones and four LEDs. This smart health smart health connected object, launched in the United States in November 2016 and in France on August 3, 2017, is linked to a virtual assistant called Google Assistant, an artificial intelligence capable of answering the vocal but also written questions of its owners. The communicating speaker is then able to help its users in multiple tasks of their daily life, as shown in the ehealth below: automatically switching on the light, switching on a playlist on Spotify, listen to the news,…

Google health home is finally available in France. For 149 euros, we can now afford the services of an assistant / secretary capable of answering all our questions, from the most intelligent to the most stupid, like preparing our agenda. The American firm is about to revolutionize French homes with this small device to connect to your health home. Simple Gadget or future essential assistant from your health home. Answer in this Review.

Mark : GoogleCategory: smart health connected AssistantConnection: WirelessCompatibility: iOS and AndroidPrice: 149 eurosAvailability: Available in France since August 3, 2017Tested with: iPhone 5s / Samsung Galaxy S6

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0iLfAV0pIg (/ embed) 

Unboxing from Google health home

First, the Google health home is delivered in a square cardboard package about 40 cm high. Mainly dominated by white, its front side shows an illustration of the product with the famous multicolored "G" from Google. The slices display the characteristics of the health home as well as some examples of questions it can answer. The back side features features with an image of the Google Assistant.

The cardboard support is lifted from above to reveal a box entirely covered in white and adorned with the Google symbol on the top. It is equipped with a small gray tab, which, when pulled, swivels upwards with a diagonal opening. We find the Google health home, standing, comfortably installed in white plastic supports.

Just below the wizard is a plastic stand with a small cone going into the Google health home even to keep it upright. Still below, are hidden small boxes with some usage information. Of course, everything is in English. Finally, the charger and its cable are placed at the very bottom of the box.

In terms of ergonomics, the packaging is quite successful. The space is very well optimized and the cabinet exudes a certain class. The packaging seems to augur a luxury product.

Google health home design and ergonomics

Google health home measures 14 centimeters high and has a cylindrical design. With its diameter of 96 millimeters, it can be placed everywhere, on a coffee table or on furniture. Its weight of 480 grams allows even small hands to lift it without problem.

The assistant is entirely white and smooth apart from its base. All gray, it is made of a material reminiscent of the carpet. So that the product can be integrated in all homes, Google offers 7 different color bases on the Google Store for $ 20. Made of metal or fabric, they can be removed very easily and conceal black speakers and a micro USB port.

On its sides, the white part of Google health home hosts a mute button, an indicator light and the famous "G". The upper surface, as if diagonally cut, is equipped with two microphones and 4 LEDs, green, blue, red and yellow, which will light up when in use.

Overall, Google’s design is quite attractive. Its dimensions will allow it to interfere in the different rooms of the house. The visual is good, but now let's move on to use.

Use of Google health home

To start, one of the cardboard packaging guides advises us to connect the Google health home. Being only available in English, it will of course be necessary to use an adapter and connect it via WiFi. However rest assured, the language of Molière arrives on August 9 in our cottages. This done, the light above the "G" lights up like those on the upper surface. The Google health home, in its female voice and always in English, asks the user to download the application which we will detail later.

The Google health home must remain smart health connected to continue working. Its use is the simplest that exists. Aloud, just say OK GOOGLE. Voice detection is often hazardous, the assistant does not detect our request. Sometimes, a few meters away, the device reacts to our “OK GOOGLE” but remains silent with our mouth glued to the microphones. This situation also occurs in the opposite direction. Accent certainly plays a role in voice detection, but in any case, be sure to speak clearly while fleeing from the ambient hubbub.

If the "OK, GOOGLE" doesn't work, the alternative is to put your finger for several seconds on the top of the device. The blue, red, yellow, and green lights on the top surface illuminate and turn before stopping. This second option has, on numerous occasions, allowed us to bypass voice detection.

It’s now the user’s turn to interact out loud with Google health home, the extent of which we will detail in the next section. After a few seconds of reflection, the device, in its still female voice, responds to each request. When these are correctly understood, Google health home has never made us languish for a long time.

The upper surface is a touch screen. A single press in the center pauses the music and stops any command in progress. Even after several hours of stopping, the device remembers the song and relaunches it when, inadvertently, we put our finger on the upper surface.

The volume is adjusted by rotating the finger circularly in the center of the screen. Small white lights appear to fill or empty the gauge. At the same time, Google health home makes sounds to give the user an idea of ​​the volume. Of course, all of these commands can be demanded by voice.

Google health home has a mute button on one of its edges to mute the device’s microphones. This will prevent him from listening to conversations that are not intended for him. It sounds an audible alert and the lights glow orange.

Finally, several Google health home can connect together to, for example, play the same music in each room.

Google health home features

Google health home answers most of your voice questions. What weather is it ? Who is Donald Trump? The assistant is able to tell the difference between those to which he cannot give us answers and those which he simply did not understand. Unsurprisingly, Google health home is more knowledgeable about the American universe than French.

When the request is correctly understood, Google health home has always provided us with the exact answer. He is already aware that Donald Trump is the President of the United States and that the latest film by J.K Rowling is being played in theaters. Supported by Google, the assistant is impressive for obtaining answers to complex and precise requests. For example, to the question “where can i find ebony ingots in the game Skyrim ”, Google health home drew a useful answer from a Wikipedia page.

It can respond to other types of commands such as news announcements or traffic conditions to get to the Eiffel Tower. Navigation and translation are supported thanks to Google Maps and Translate services.

Google health home has other capabilities like scheduling alarms or announcing your next appointment. With the user's permission, the assistant can enter the paired smartphone in order to send messages or book a ride with the Uber app. If you're in the mood for fun, Google health home offers a few on-demand "Play games". It is better to assimilate the basics of the language of Shakespeare to interact with the device and play against a friend.

In terms of music listening, Google health home can play songs from Youtube Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn and Pandora. Apart from the last two, all require premium accounts, which therefore require payment. However, you can stream music from your smartphone apps to a TV or speakers by connecting Chromecast.

Aside from foreign songs for Google health home, Google health home correctly understands user orders. The sound of Google health home is fairly well balanced. The bass surprises with its strength for a device with such dimensions. However, the device will not replace a full Bluetooth speaker.

Google health home connects with smart devices like the Nest and Philips Hue product series to adjust temperature or control lights. We tried with a lamp from the Philips Hue range. Its control with Google health home is practical, not requiring the user to perform the slightest movement.

The wizard can also control products and services compatible with Google Cast technology. Therefore, it is possible to ask him to watch your favorite Netflix series on your television or Youtube videos. An IFTTT command is possible to connect other devices or applications. However, Google announces an improvement in the services compatible with its assistant.

Application

The application is free and available on Android and, more surprisingly, on iOS. This only works if the language of your smartphone is in English and if it is localized in the United States. The configuration is simple and the application requests access to your Google account.

The main tab of the application introduces the functionality of Google health home by providing sample questions. At the top of the screen, the “refresh” icon with integrated needles gives access to the request history with a search function. The one in the upper right corner redirects us to the list of smart health connected devices and current orders.

The three horizontal lines at the top left give the preferences for the account associated with Google health home. It is possible to choose the default music player and access the settings of smart health connected objects in the house. Another icon allows you to save a shopping list and notes. The remaining tabs redirect to account preferences and settings.

Even in English, the application remains simple to use and quick to use. The interface is pleasant and intuitive. It doesn't have a lot of features, anyway, the Google health home is intended for use with voice.

Against competition

Google health home competes directly with Amazon Echo. Both devices can play music, control your smart health connected objects, and answer questions with nothing but your voice.

While Amazon seems to be a step ahead by its seniority, Google has already had experience in the field of voice commands for years. The Echo has already benefited from numerous updates and integrations like Uber or Domino’s Pizza but we will have to wait to see if Google can keep the same pace. health home, on the other hand, is expanding its capabilities with the Google Cast system.

In terms of searches, Google health home plays in the upper division. He is able to handle more targeted and complex issues than his competitor. However, in task management, the Amazon Echo is above. he can, for example, add events to your Google Calendar while Google health home is only able to view it.

L‘Echo emits a small sound each time it is listening so as to warn its user. On the other hand, Google health home lights up when you say "Ok, Google". This design is elegant but not always visible. Finally, Google health home sells for 149 euros against $ 179 from its competitor, which is not available in France.

Conclusion

Good points

• Easy to use

• An excellent search engine

• Good sound

Negative points

• Compatible paid services

• French version pending

• Random voice recognition

Design and Ergonomics – 9

Application – 8

Features – 7

Value for money – 8

8

Google health home is hitting hard and paving the way for competition in the PDA market. A "Must-Have" for all smart health connected homes.

Design and Ergonomics : Google health home has a very sleek design that respects the minimalist DNA that we know of the American giant, simple, but effective. For everyone, just say "OK Google …" followed by any question for an immediate answer. Obviously we could only expect a quality product from Google.

Application : Google health home can pair with most of your other smart health connected objects. A must have for any smart health home.

Features : It's simple, once you try, you can't do without it. In the role of the perfect little assistant, Google health home shines with its ingenuity. You can ask him almost anything. Need to add something to your shopping list? Do you need to be reminded of your loved one's birthday? Can't remember the name of the music you're listening to? Need a timer for the oven? Google health home is there for you.

Quality / Price ratio : Google health home stands out from its main competitor, Amazon Echo in simplest ways, it is available in France, at a price of 149 euros against 179 dollars for the Amazon Echo. Google health home is clearly worth its price, especially since the device will continue to evolve to become more and more efficient. It is a reasonable choice for anyone immersed in an Android ecosystem. Having a Chromecast is a plus to be able to make the most of health home applications

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW