Google here, google there, google everywhere
For a long time, I have been predicting the Google was going to challenge Microsoft and change the face of the internet. I started to think this when I read an article last year that talked about how Google was actively recruiting PhDs (who many companies ignore because they believe PhDs are only interested in research and not commerce). Google not only hired them, but gave them one day a week to concentrate on creating new products and running with wild ideas. Since then, Google continues to add new, free services, including a satellite mapping service, e-mail, web messenger, web phone service, shopping assistance (froogle), and others. Today, I read that Google is going to release a new service that I was hoping for (kinda). According to CNN, Google is planning to operate a Wi-Fi service. The way I see it, the more people Google can get online the more money they can make. Not much is known about Google WiFi, but I hope they make the tremendous investment and the risk to make the service free. Free internet for everyone! This would put AOL out of business and would crush revenue sources from Yahoo, Verizon, MSN, and any one else charging for internet access. Google has billions of dollars in cash for such a project and I'm sure they could get some government support. Free internet is not only good for online commerce, but also for schools, children, and the poorer population. It would be a great social good.
After that Google can work on free office software and a free web-based operating system. Imagine a company that kept making money by offering free products. Google has done it so far and can continue to if they are as ambitious as they say (and if two 20-something billionaires can’t be idealists, then you can?).
I only worry that over the years, the government will come to rely too heavily on Google. Perhaps in 2029 all stealth bombers will be upgraded with neural processors, becoming fully unmanned. One of them, Googlenet, might learn at a geometric rate. It may become self-aware at 2:14 a.m. eastern time, August 29. And then all hell breaks loose.
----------------------------
Addendum: Not one day later then I wrote this above rant, the New York Times published an article on this very subject and confirmed my hopes and suspicious. Google WiFi will be (supposedly) offer for free. The article also reference an earlier report that for the last year, the company had "quietly been shopping for miles and miles of 'dark,' or unused, fiber optic cable across the country," presumably as a step toward building a wireless network.
After that Google can work on free office software and a free web-based operating system. Imagine a company that kept making money by offering free products. Google has done it so far and can continue to if they are as ambitious as they say (and if two 20-something billionaires can’t be idealists, then you can?).
I only worry that over the years, the government will come to rely too heavily on Google. Perhaps in 2029 all stealth bombers will be upgraded with neural processors, becoming fully unmanned. One of them, Googlenet, might learn at a geometric rate. It may become self-aware at 2:14 a.m. eastern time, August 29. And then all hell breaks loose.
----------------------------
Addendum: Not one day later then I wrote this above rant, the New York Times published an article on this very subject and confirmed my hopes and suspicious. Google WiFi will be (supposedly) offer for free. The article also reference an earlier report that for the last year, the company had "quietly been shopping for miles and miles of 'dark,' or unused, fiber optic cable across the country," presumably as a step toward building a wireless network.
Comments
How-about-a-nice-game-of-chess?