Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has launched a new video series aimed at helping application and website developers to use compression algorithms more effectively. The aim is, for the set of three videos, to highlight various ways to make smaller and better apps, and websites.
At present, a lot of websites and apps use too much memory for them to be effectively operated using a mobile device. This requires users to need a more traditional internet connection in order to fully appreciate them. Given that Google estimates that a lot of new internet users will not have access to cheap internet connections through any other way than their phone, it is making a push to streamline the current way in which apps and websites are designed.
The new series of videos is called “Compressor Head”, and shows the evolution, and use of compression algorithms. This allows developers to condense content, which reduces data usage, and speeds up performance. It is currently being offered through the Google Developers YouTube channel. The videos were unveiled on May 20 by Colt McAnlis, a Google developer advocate on the Google Developers Blog.
The first episode in the series covers Variable Length Codes, which have been a key part of data compression since the early 50’s. The second video deals with the LZ Compression Family, which is one of the most important algorithm families. It has been around since its invention in the late 1970’s. The final video that has been released, describes Markov Chain Compression. This type of compression is regarded as cutting edge, and takes an artificial intelligence style view of compression, by enabling users to predict what data is coming next.
