http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lZzpNzoT6c
It’s a 30 minute video that’s pretty bland but it gives an idea of what Google has planned for the future. He touches on Google Glass, driver-less cars, Google Fiber, and the next generation of search among other things which I’m sure all of you have heard of. He also mentions that the FDA just approved a swallow-able chip in a pill (that can be read about through a simple search, this being the newest chip http://www.wired.com/design/2013/02/freescales-tiny-arm-chip/) which Google isn’t working on but I thought it was notable.
What I’d like to talk about is the rate and scope at which Google’s power and influence on our society is growing. At the 13:50 mark in the interview he mentions the next generation of search in which they may be able to “suggest what you should be searching for” which gets a small chuckle from the interviewer and audience.
The things Google is/will be capable of doing are something straight out of science fiction. I’m not saying that any of what Google is doing is inherently bad, I believe quite the opposite, but it’s almost like opening Pandora’s box. I fear Google’s good intentions of progress and innovation is paving a road that is making for the possibility of an Orwellian society more of a reality.
So I’m asking
- Do you think Google is becoming too large of an entity?
- Do you think it’s a cause for concern that they, or anyone for that matter, have/will have these abilities?
- Do you trust Google with this kind of power?
- If not, would you trust anyone with this kind of power? If so, who?
not to tint your view on the matter but I found it fitting
Uhm well WOW. The end picture is definitely fitting. Google seems to be like an mutated octopus that just keeps on growing, and though we use their products daily it also is a bit intimidating that they want to suggest what we SHOULD be searching, Id like to think i have a brain of my own and that i am not interested in becoming a zombie where the internet tells me what i should and should not be looking for, therefore no i would not trust google with the power to be so all seeing to my personal activity, there should still at least be a sense of privacy. This is exactly what the Filter Bubble touches on the power that these moguls have over our wants, they think they have us figured out and in reality if i don’t want to be followed around having the same things shoved in my face i think it should be my choice.
I would definitely not trust anyone with the power of making my decisions for me, I think that is why we were born with our own brains with our own ability to separate our likes and dislikes that is why life puts challenges in front of us so we can make our own choices.
This idea definitely angers me but thanks for the great post!
This relates to Pariser’s concerns in “The Filter Bubble.” All these technological advancements leads to upward mobility for Google as a company, but at the same time, it keeps us in our own bubbles. I predict that , if Google goes forward with these advancements, they will be the key directors of how information flows on the internet.
And what annoys me even more is that Google trying to mask a homely image and putting up these overly friendly videos (the ones Professor showed in class), where they have one of their ‘guy/girl next door’ employee trying to explain to us on how they are very grounded, that they are here to help us, why the ads are a good thing and so on. They pretend like they genuinely care about us, and try to teach us how to block cookies and blah blah blah, while at the same time they are trying to come up with more sophisticated ways to chip in cookies into our computer. Hypocrites!
I think I am venting a bit too much.