(A Reflective look at the little search engine
that soared!)
All knowing, all seeing, ever present!
Google has permeated into almost every aspect of life on this planet
and beyond. It has become a mainstream fixture for computer and Internet
users around the globe. All the while, cementing its position as the
only real facilitator of the world's collective intelligence.
Can you remember a day when you have not Googled?
But Google's reach doesn't stop with the mouse or the cursor. It has
moved beyond the computer screen, snapping up resources, sites, and people
at a frighteningly steady pace. Perhaps, the first indication Google
wasn't just satisfied with staying within the wired confines of the world
wide web was when it partnered with universities such as Harvard, Oxford,
Stanford and others, to scan and index the contents of their libraries
-- then making this material accessible through Google Print.
Then it casted its aspirations heavenward with the introduction of Google
Maps and Google Earth. Mapping services that bring the world's geographic
information into view, it is as if Google had literally ascended, watching
us from far and near, tracking our every move as well as our every keystroke.
Even using satellite imagery to provide it with eyes in the sky; leading
one to wonder, from those lofty heights can divinity be far behind?
All kidding aside, Google, whether it wants to or not, is developing
a god-like reverence in the eyes of many. But is this such a leap of
faith? Is the idea of Google as a god-like force in our lives so preposterous?
so ludicrous? so sacrilegious?
In prehistoric times, pagans used to worship the sun gods. Ancient Egypt,
Greece and Rome all had their gods who satisfied the basic human need
we have to believe in a superior being or force. They even raised ordinary
humans who displayed unusual courage or bravery up to a god-like status.
Are we now entering into a new post-modern pagan era -- will we be worshipping
at the feet of Google?
Not really, we treat all our knowledge givers with respect, some even
reach a god-like status. We raise them up above the crowd, give them
special meaning or reverence in our lives. Humans have been doing this
since we stood upright and walked on the plains of Africa. The shaman
or high priest of ancient times -- holders of the secret rites, holders
of a group's history or knowledge; we show these people respect and we
elevate them to a higher status.
Google falls into this category.
And Google does deserve some respect, as far as the search engine market
goes, whether it's wearing a halo or a cursor -- Google is still the
only game in town. According to Alexa, a company that tracks web traffic,
the top three sites on the Web are 1. Yahoo, 2. MSN, and 3. Google. However,
when you compare where people go on these sites -- search.yahoo.com accounts
for only 9% of Yahoo's traffic and search.msn.com only 7% of MSN's total
traffic; whereas most of Google's traffic is search traffic. This is
a big distinction.
And what about the purchasing power of these search engines; latest
data presented by Score Networks, Inc. shows MSN searchers at 48%, Google
searchers at 42% and Yahoo at 31%. That is Google searchers were 42%
more likely to purchase online than the regular Internet user.
Another aspect of Google's commercial might is its online advertising
system. Through its Adsense and Adword programs, Google has commercialize
and monetized most of the web's free content. Depending on your opinions
or stand, this may be good or bad. Regardless of viewpoints, Google has
been more than generous with sharing this ad
revenue with all concerned parties -- content providers, web writers
and journalists, professional bloggers, ordinary webmasters and marketers
-- all have reaped the benefits of these programs.
If you feed it with fresh high quality content -- Google will take good
care of you! In many cases, it can be argued that Google is subsidizing
or facilitating the creation of quality content on the Net through its
Adsense program.
Google's dominance of all aspects of the Internet is also taking on
a god-like force. It is acquiring and building at an almost god-like
speed. Google Acquisitions include: Outride, Blogger, Neotonic Software,
Applied Semantics, Ignite Logic, Genius Labs, Picasa, Keyhole, Urchin
software... how did all this madness start?
Initially called BackRub, referring to the way it back linked to web
sites, Google was founded by Stanford graduate students Larry Page and
Sergey Brin. Google, the name itself is a play on the word googol, and
refers to the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros... opened
its doors on Sept. 7, 1998, in Menlo Park, California. It had a corporate
staff of three. In 2004 Google offered its IPO with a price per share
at $85. By June 7, 2005, Google was worth $80 billion, making it one
of the world's biggest media companies.
Perhaps, one of Google's most brilliant (some believe absurd) moves,
happened just recently. It has applied (via Nelson Minar, a Google Engineer),
for patent rights to transmit ads through RSS feeds. Few people know,
even more won't believe, but the Internet has undergone a fundamental
shift in how information is exchanged on the web. RSS stands for 'Really
Simple Syndication' and was first popularized by blogs because blogs
use XML and RSS feeds to syndicate their content.
Don't come to us, we will deliver. People can view a site's contents
through RSS readers or an RSS equipped browser without actually going
to the sites.
RSS will revolutionize the Internet. Microsoft in its Longhorn Statement
has announced the next version of Windows will have RSS integrated into
its Operating System. RSS applications, under the Creative Commons license,
will change the way we use our computers and the Internet.
Google, if it is successful with this patent application will build
on its already god-like status. The stakes are enormous and Google knows
it. This patent could put Google directly into the mix, but the rewards
are beyond belief! And that's not all, there are rumors Google may be
developing its own RSS powered operating system and browser. Why not,
it has the resources and financial clout to easily carry out such an
undertaking. Google is already the owner of the domain name "gbrowser.com"!
One can only wonder, is Google positioning itself to not only be the
brains of the Internet but also placing itself into the very core of
the nasty beast? Does it desire not only to be a mega hub, but also to
be an innate part of the whole structure? Positioning itself, in essence,
to becoming the web's nervous system.
Any movement of data, information, or commerce on the Internet will
have to pass through and be affected by the Google Factor. More or less,
cementing Google's influence on the whole scheme of things. And in the
process, further weaving Google into the very fabric of our lives.
Now if that's not God-like, nothing is.
Everyone is profiting for Google, find out how you can too! Click here: Google Cash File.
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Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins
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