Google Green Project Many people only identify Google as a search and software giant, but there are so many other ventures that Google it taking part in. Green energy is something that Google has been investing in and piloting for quite a while now. Google has publicly acknowledged that investing in green is their environmental responsibility. They have also admitted that it is not just their moral obligation, but that it also makes sense business wise. By investing and piloting advances in renewable energy it increases its overall proficiency and decreases long-term cost. Google has invested in the research and development of a wide range of renewable energy initiatives to include: wind, solar, and geothermal. Not only does this look good from the community prospective, but it is a smart business choice as well. Currently, renewable energy makes up a small part of Google’s overall business plan, but as this develops and pays off, it will likely find a bigger place among the company. In 2007, Google installed the largest of its kind solar grid array at the Mountain View campus. This array produces 1.7MW and provides 30% of the campus’ power. Not only will this solar array pay for itself with 6 years, but it will continue to provide power for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, Google is entering into long-term contracts with green energy providers that will provide a fair portion of the power to its data centers worldwide. This started out as philanthropic in nature, but as the cost of non-renewable energy continues to increase, their rates for renewable energy are locked in for an extended amount of time. There are many benefits, both environmental and business, that come from investing in renewable energy. Global warming is a topic that has been on the public’s radar for a long time now. Not only does using renewable energy reduce our overall carbon footprint, but it also sheds a positive light on the companies that invest in saving the environment. Google has made significant investments into reducing their carbon footprint and it has not gone on unnoticed. They have received recognition from numerous environmental oversight committees, which has had a significant impact on their public opinion. As discussed earlier, there are several potential financial incentives to going green. Mainly, renewable energy is exactly that, renewable. Therefore, although there is a significant initial investment, there is the potential of taping a limitless source of energy. There are some potential downfalls to investing in renewable energy. For example, there is a substantial original investment for the technology required to harness it. Also, this technology is constantly advancing. So what might be state of the art today, could and will be outdated in the near future. Also, there is considerable e-waste involved in producing this technology. So by creating alternatives in energy to protect the environment, we are further damaging the environment by increasing the ever growing pile of e-waste.
Google Self-Driving Car People have long dreamed of a car with the ability to drive itself. From society’s elite to the less fortunate, a car that drives itself is appealing to all for similar reasons. Most felt like it wouldn’t become reality in their lifetime or even their grandchildren’s, but Google has turned that dream into a very real possibility. There are numerous theories out there as to why Google has invested so much time and resources on a self-driving car. After all, they have never come out and said how they plan to make money from this venture or if they will even try to market the technology. However, one thing we have learned from Google is that they are always looking for ways to push technology to the next level. Google started their self-driving car venture a couple years ago using a Toyota Prius with a laser range finder mounted on top of the vehicle. This range finder is used to generate a 3D map of the vehicle’s environment which is then used to make driving calculations. It uses these measurements in conjunction with highly detailed maps that allows it to navigate obstacles and maintain traffic regulations. There is also an in-depth radar system in it that monitors traffic and other vehicles near the car. So far, these vehicles have been tested on city, rural, and mountainous streets with minimal human intervention. Google proudly publicizes a man that is 95% blind being driven by one of these self-driving vehicles from his home to the Taco Bell drive thru and back home without any problems. Furthermore, they boast driving hundreds of thousands of miles in these cars with minimal problems and zero traffic accidents on public roads.
In Mountain View, California, home to Google’s self-driving car revolution, there are numerous robotic cars driving around the city on a daily basis. The possibility of a self-driving cars has excited many and terrified some. For the residents of Mountain View, this is all a reality that is lived out every day. Some residents enjoy the thought of the monumental progress being made in their hometown, while others are annoyed by the added traffic as a result of amazed onlookers. Overall, there are some distinct advantages and disadvantages associated with this technology.
The advantages are relatively straightforward. This technology could provide busy people with a convenient way to get to and from their destinations while working on other tasks. Also, these cars when used on a large scale could reduce the risk of traffic accidents, speeding, and human error. By incorporating artificial intelligence, every move the car makes is a calculated decision based on a series of measurements that a human is liable to misjudge. Furthermore, one of the most common causes of traffic accidents is distracted drivers. By automating the process of driving all together you completely circumvent this problem.
One of the major concerns is what happens if the system malfunctions. As we all know, computers crash all the time and sometimes without warning. Putting your life and the life of your loved ones in the hands of a computer is not an easy decision. There are also question about the legal ramifications if something does go wrong. Is it the owner or the manufacturers fault?
Google Glass
There has been a lot of hype and secrecy surrounding Google Glass. Many people have heard of the goggles being made by the search giant, but few have been given the opportunity to try them out. So what exactly is Google Glass? Simply put, it is Google’s attempt at making a wearable computing device that has the same/similar functionality as a desktop computer.
Glasses with computer functionality have long been a popular product of science fiction in spy movies/literature. Google has taken what so many people have dreamed of and made it a reality. According to Google, Google Glass has the ability to: take pictures, record video, overlay directions, speech-to-text messaging, search the internet, and translate your voice. The Glass comes standard on a flexible and durable frame that includes a touchpad along one arm. The sound is provided by bone-induction technology. This vibrates your skull to create a more grisly and less cumbersome sound than traditional headphones. Currently, the glasses do not come with built in GPS functionality, but that can be overcome by synching it with a GPS enabled Bluetooth phone. Google has already distributed a limited number of glasses based on a lottery where the winners had to fork over $1,500 to cover the cost. These winners are also expected to give Google periodic feedback on what it does well and what it could do better.
As for the advantages of this technology, it seems to be more on the side of convenience and having the latest and greatest. However, this technology definitely has potential and could eventually make cell phones obsolete, but it’s too soon to tell. Another potential advantage would be that having this information in front of your eyes at all times could limit the distraction associated with constantly checking your phone for calls, emails, and texts. Ultimately, this technology is too new to know exactly what all of the benefits will be, but the possibilities are endless.
On the downside, there are numerous ethical and privacy concerns that have been brought up. For example, a bar in Seattle recently banned the use of the Glass due to privacy concerns. The bar was concerned that the privacy of their patrons was in jeopardy since these glasses allow you to stream what you see whenever and to whomever. They even went as far as encouraging “ass kicking” for the people who violated the ban. For many people, their own personal privacy is of the upmost importance. The ability to record/stream video through the use of “spy glasses” is a slippery slope and could easy violate certain ethical boundaries. Ultimately, this technology, like many others, leaves it up to its owners to use it in a responsible manner. However, the problem with this is they are leaving it up the owners to be responsible.
Google Earth There are few people who haven’t played around with Google Earth at some point. It is commonly used as an application to explore the world. It compiles stitched together satellite imagery that can be used to zoom and glide over specified geographic areas. There are so many reasons to use Google Earth and the possibilities are endless. The graphical user interface of Google Earth starts with a view of earth from space. By using the mouse or predefined keys the user can zoom, drag, or invert the geographic region they are interested in. Some areas include high resolution imagery that are detailed enough for the user to pick out very specific information. There are also numerous layers that can be used to add functionality to the interactive map. Layers can include roads, city/state/country names, borders, food, gas, lodging, and even 3D imagery of buildings. Depending on its intended use, Google Earth can be downloaded for free on the internet. For adventures or businesses looking for a more robust version, Google does offer versions with additional features and better resolution. For those of us that enjoy adventure, but have financial constraints that limit their ability to travel, Google Earth gives a cheap aerial alternative. Google Earth is commonly used by certain government elements and businesses to measure distances, draw boxes, and even import specific data. With the ability to add data to Google Earth it can literally be tailored to each individual’s needs. This makes it a very dynamic tool with numerous applications. As mentioned, this technology can benefit different people in different ways. For example, if a person got a new job on the other side of the country, but wasn’t able to scout out the location in person prior to the move, he or she could use Google Earth. By looking at the Google Earth view, a perspective home buyer could check out locations based on what they do or don’t want. If they are an outdoor enthusiast they could look to see how far away they would be from the mountains, lakes, or trails. If they didn’t want to live within 5 miles of a highway or city, they could use Google Earth to measure that. One of the major complaints about Google Earth is the infrequency in which the imagery is updated. If a user is researching an area that is already well established this might not be an issue. However, if it is a newer development it likely won’t show up in the Google Earth imagery database. An example of when this could really cause problems is if the military or a similar organization were to use this for critical planning. If the military was planning an operation based on the imagery they got of Google Earth they would risking using outdated information that could have severe repercussions. Hopefully, anytime an organization required real-time imagery they wouldn’t be using Google Earth, but at the end of the day that might be their only option. Therefore, people who rely too heavily on any one technology are subject to the limitations of that technology.
Google+
Google has been trying to corner the market on social media for years. With all the different forms of social media nowadays a lot of it boils down to switching costs. Facebook has long been the frontrunner in social media and unless there is a sudden shift in attitude or technology they will likely remain in the lead. However, Google+ has a lot to offer and has a very loyal customer base. Although, some debate whether that customer base is strictly pro Google+ or just anti Facebook, but the end result is still the same. According to Google, it was not their intention to take over the social media market, but is more concerned about the data, identification, and personalization. In fact, they call this the Google+ project, meaning this will be integrated into the overall Google business plan. Google plans to take the information it gathers from its users and personalize the overall web experience. So from that perspective, maybe Google isn’t “trying” to be the new Facebook, but they probably wouldn’t complain if that was the end result. Some have suggested that is simply a Google ploy to manage stockholders expectations. Either way, they will be targeting the very same people that currently and could potentially be Facebook users. Google+ is meant to be the game changer. Yes, it looks and feels similar to Facebook, but it does have some unique features that Facebook has yet to introduce. Some of the things that Google+ offers include: targeted comments, no advertisements (yet), video chat with multiple people, and diverse infrastructure personalized for you. There are many people that benefit from social media in different ways. From a business perspective, the more members you have the more marketing power you are afforded. Also, if Google is using social media for the data, then they have already succeeded. From a user standpoint, you have the ability to network with a large amount of people from diverse geographic locations. On the business side, if your efforts and resources are accomplishing your goals, there really isn’t a downside. However, from the user perspective there is a psychological factor that comes into play. Many people are concerned with society’s dependency on social media. It is good to stay connected with friends and family, but there is a certain point when it becomes too much. People have become obsessed with updating their status or seeing how many friends they can get. Also, social media has been used as a tool for cyberbullying. Instead of saying a negative comment to a person’s face it can now be posted in a centralized location where all of their friends, neighbors, and family will see. There have been numerous cases in recent months where teenagers have committed suicide due to comments posted on social media. None of these have been directly attributed to Google+, but this is a problem effecting all social media venues.

References
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