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Author: Titus Hoskins Article source: http://www.disorderskin.com/. Used with author's permission.
(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. Get a Free Desktop Calendar & Planner compliments of
the Author and DATEwise.
Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins
This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
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