google i/o general explanation
A quick Google search will return two commonly cited explanations. The first is that “I/O” means “input/output”. It is a reference to the computational concept of interfacing between computer systems and the outside world.
Another is that I/O stands for “Innovation in the Open”. This seems a fitting explanation as Google reveals and gives a sneak peek at research, artificial intelligence (AI) (for the time being), accessibility features, and next-generation products, among others.
Start of Google I/O
Google I/O started as an event in 2007 but it was not called I/O at that time.
“It was a phenomenon called google developer daywhich we hosted at the San Jose Convention Center with 1,000 tickets for developers,” said Lorin PlateDirector of Events and Experience Operations and one of the original I/O event organizers.
At that event, Google engineers and product experts presented sessions on developer tools at the San Jose Convention Center as well as at local events around the world.
“The San Jose program was only open for an hour before reaching capacity. And that’s when we realized that next year, we really needed to step it up a notch,” Lorin said.
In 2008, the event moved to San Francisco’s Moscone Center West – a larger venue – and that’s when the event got its official name.
Connection between Google and I/O
Like Google’s name, I/O was also based on something numerical. As mentioned above how Google got its name, I/O has a similar naming history.
“Googol is the one followed by 100 zeros, so the I/O name and logo came from there. We just took the first and zero, and left all the other zeros. It all goes back to Google,” Lorin explained.
“And then when we were brainstorming, we started talking about what another zero might mean. That’s where the slogans ‘input/output’ and ‘innovation in the open’ came from,” Lorin he said.
Google I/O 2023
According to Mike PeggWho helped lead I/O on the marketing side from 2011 to 2017, I/O stands for Google I/O now and it symbolizes the whole of Google.
“It’s become more than a developer conference, it’s a great representation of everything we’ve been doing and want to share with the world. When beautiful [Pichai] takes the stage, and says, ‘Good morning everyone, and welcome to Google I/O,’ it’s like, ‘Ah, here we are,’ Pegg said.
Google I/O will take place on Wednesday (May 10) and the event will begin at 10am PT (10:30pm IST) with a Google keynote.