Post by drewlane on Aug 8, 2011 21:59:31 GMT -5
Okay, some of the stuff Mr. Carr said was scary, if not aboslutely terrifying but he has a very good point. Google could possibly be making us....stupid. Now, I'm not saying we should go out and hold a riot, but I do think we need to listen to the wise words in this article. As a web-advocate and student, I know that Google is one of the best things that has ever happened to the human race. We get amazing information and searching....for free! If Google decided they wanted to charge a monthly fee, they could, and I would happily pay it. Why? Because I can get the information I need, cite it, and write an essay in under 3 hours if I'm feeling up to it. If I went without Google, it would take me 3 hours just to get the research for the paper found, not to mention 3-4 more hours to cite all of my sources in the appropriate MLA format. Without a computer, it could easily take me a day.
What's the point in all of this rambling? Google is no longer a luxury, it is necessary. When Google was founded, people saw it as a nifty way to retrieve the information they needed without an entire library handy. Now, libraries are trying to become more like Google because everyone uses it. I guarantee you that at your local library there is a computer that can digitally acess the book you are looking for and tell you exactly where it is. This is because people started getting upset about having to walk in the library and actually LOOK for the book because they never have to do it at home when they use Google. Without Google, homework wouldn't be possible for me, or anyone at all because the libraries are beginning to close. With the effective software that Google is cranking out, they can even make my Facebook time or online shopping session as simple as using Google with Google Chrome. I no longer have need for Microsoft Word because I have Google Docs, which makes allof my documents available on any computer anywhere in the world.
Despite all of the amazing things Google has done, we need to realize just how scary this situation could become. Not only could Google make us stupid, but theycould make us...smarter. As the article stated, Google has been looking for a way to create artificial intelligence to make our lives easier. However, in order for them to create this technology, they have to find what people search for. They did this by creating one simple, free piece of software-Google Chrome. This alternate web browser tracks exactly what sites you visit, adds you see, and where you like to do your shopping online and reports them straight to the Googleplex. This allows Google to "optimize your searching needs" as stated in the Google Chrome Terms of Service. When you click "I Agree-Download Now" you sign away the right to your private web browsing. How scary is that?
Now I'm not trying to say that we should just up and kill Google, I'm just saying Mr. Carr has a point. If we don't stop using Google as an extension of our mind, being distracted while your reading will be the least of your worries. You may just have a new Google brain doing the reading for you.
What's the point in all of this rambling? Google is no longer a luxury, it is necessary. When Google was founded, people saw it as a nifty way to retrieve the information they needed without an entire library handy. Now, libraries are trying to become more like Google because everyone uses it. I guarantee you that at your local library there is a computer that can digitally acess the book you are looking for and tell you exactly where it is. This is because people started getting upset about having to walk in the library and actually LOOK for the book because they never have to do it at home when they use Google. Without Google, homework wouldn't be possible for me, or anyone at all because the libraries are beginning to close. With the effective software that Google is cranking out, they can even make my Facebook time or online shopping session as simple as using Google with Google Chrome. I no longer have need for Microsoft Word because I have Google Docs, which makes allof my documents available on any computer anywhere in the world.
Despite all of the amazing things Google has done, we need to realize just how scary this situation could become. Not only could Google make us stupid, but theycould make us...smarter. As the article stated, Google has been looking for a way to create artificial intelligence to make our lives easier. However, in order for them to create this technology, they have to find what people search for. They did this by creating one simple, free piece of software-Google Chrome. This alternate web browser tracks exactly what sites you visit, adds you see, and where you like to do your shopping online and reports them straight to the Googleplex. This allows Google to "optimize your searching needs" as stated in the Google Chrome Terms of Service. When you click "I Agree-Download Now" you sign away the right to your private web browsing. How scary is that?
Now I'm not trying to say that we should just up and kill Google, I'm just saying Mr. Carr has a point. If we don't stop using Google as an extension of our mind, being distracted while your reading will be the least of your worries. You may just have a new Google brain doing the reading for you.