NEW YORK: Google now has been in a joint venture with Johnson & Johnson’s to manufacturing smart robots which will be capable of attempting surgeries on their own, or perhaps a surgery based on assistance from the robotics. Google has also another business that is currently focused on developing robotics and goes by the name of Replicant.
It manufactures such robots that are capable to mimic human beings to some extent. This however is another project completely different from that of Replicant. Johnson & Johnson’s along with Google are teaming up on this remarkable venture, which highlights the company’s life sciences group inside its undercover Google X division.
This particular partnership announcement is new enough that neither company is willing to divulge much information. Financial terms especially weren’t disclosed but J&J said the deal will likely be fully closed in the second quarter once it has been reviewed by anti-trust authorities. Among the solutions Google has been considering working on is something called machine-vision as well as image analysis software. These solutions are geared towards helping surgeons see better in the operating room. They would also be getting real time information easier that is relevant to the operation they are doing.
While Google and J&J would like to eventually apply these types of technology advancements to major surgeries, the focus for now will be what are known as “minimally-invasive” surgery. These surgeries use tools and other tech in order to reduce scarring, blood loss, pain and reduce recovery times. Surgeons are already using technological advances in order to control certain tools that aid in getting them right to the spot of the body they need to access.
It stands to reason that Google and J&J are going to be taking it a bit slow at first. There are plenty of people who are worried about this kind of technology being breached, either by those just looking to cause chaos, or those looking to cause actual harm. Still, Google truly entering into this field could hint at big things to come in the very near future.
