In certain topics of interest, did you know that Google is slowly taking over the universe, changing the way people access and utilize information, revolutionizing digital culture and transforming the advertising world? Did you know that Google owns Blogger? And YouTube? And has spearheaded the OpenSource project? And is working on what AdAge has called a "web-wide social network" via its project "FriendConnect," which allows users to add social-media-enabling widgets (such as reviews, galleries and message boards) to websites?
And did you also know that GoogleMaps has a picture of my Dad outside our house if you select Google's "street view" photography?
Our lawn is actually green these days, so it's uncertain how old this picture is. But seriously, how crazy is that?
Further to documenting/stalking neighborhoods by house numbers, in select cities, Google's driving directions now feature similiar photos: for the step-by-step turn and exit directions as you drive from point A to point B.
For instance, if you're driving south on Hwy 183 in Austin, and are merging on I-35 South toward San Antonio, Google gives you this photo to accompany your driving directions:
I'm anticipating the growth of the cities included in this project, and it will be interesting to watch how these programs integrate into new mediums and applications, such as on the mobile phone (particularly smartphones such as the iPhone, Blackberry), GPS systems or web apps. I'm also interested to see how these projects are maintained and updated, given development in... oh right, everywhere.Of course, these projects also bring up interesting security and ethics questions. My dad, for instance, would actually be furious if he saw the picture on Google. Public space is one thing, but where do the home owners associations sign up for the digital revolution's version of the "no-call list"? Google's development is no doubt unbelievably innovative. But just how personal should the world's biggest platform get?
For a complete list of Google's products (desktop, mobile, web, hardware and others), visit this Wikipedia entry.
2 comments:
In regards to the photo of your house with your father outside, that's a bit too big brother-ish for me. I wonder if he even noticed people taking photos, and who does that job?
Wow straight from 1984 George Orwell was trying to warn us.
I feel I should do one of two things... join google in the fight to take over the world..... or become move to Antarctica......surely google cannot make it there.......
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