alik_05
02-08-2006, 01:58 PM
Google Maps. Google Video. Google News. Gmail. Just some of the areas search engine Google has branched out into in the past couple of years. And the expansion shows no signs of slowing down just yet, despite controversies over such subjects as censorship in China and high-profile arguements with the US government about not handing over data and with various publishing companies about publishing books online.
But once we've waded through the great ocean of confusion, hypocrisy and more confusion that surrounds Google's recent activities, where is Google as a company going? CNN's business department recently published four theoretic possiblities suggesting where the company will be in the next few decades. You can read the full article here (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/01/01/8368125/index.htm), but for those of you who can't be bothered, here's a (very brief) summary (The following scenarios are all fictional and no-one should panic and run screaming to the nearest suicide booth in despair).
Scenario 1 (Circa 2025): Google Is The Media
Google TV, Google Mobile and the rise of e-paper result in Google revolutionising news and entertainment, replacing all other news agencies and destroying Hollywood.
Scenario 2 (Circa 2015): Google is the Internet
Google's own internet browser wipes out all competition, including Miscrosoft and eBay as new features allow users to do everything from interent shopping to cooking dinner.
Scenario 3 (Circa 2020): Google is Dead
Google sells out to advertisers, who are allowed to promote their own websites on Google's search engine for a price. As Google's search engine loses quality, it is overtaken by MSN's search engine. As attempts to recover grow more desperate, Google's "do no evil" reputation vanishes forever and Microsoft moves in for the kill.
Scenario 4 (Circa 2105): Google is G-d
Google proves itself to be ultimate master and commander of the universe and engulfs any that dare oppose it. Now we are all Google...
Obviously, these scenarios are done with a certain amount of creative license and the piece is fairly satirical, but they do show up the possible routes which Google could go down in the future, albeit to an extreme extent. Will they remain the friendly internet company next door, or evolve into the sort of despised mega-company Microsoft became. Only time will tell.
But once we've waded through the great ocean of confusion, hypocrisy and more confusion that surrounds Google's recent activities, where is Google as a company going? CNN's business department recently published four theoretic possiblities suggesting where the company will be in the next few decades. You can read the full article here (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/01/01/8368125/index.htm), but for those of you who can't be bothered, here's a (very brief) summary (The following scenarios are all fictional and no-one should panic and run screaming to the nearest suicide booth in despair).
Scenario 1 (Circa 2025): Google Is The Media
Google TV, Google Mobile and the rise of e-paper result in Google revolutionising news and entertainment, replacing all other news agencies and destroying Hollywood.
Scenario 2 (Circa 2015): Google is the Internet
Google's own internet browser wipes out all competition, including Miscrosoft and eBay as new features allow users to do everything from interent shopping to cooking dinner.
Scenario 3 (Circa 2020): Google is Dead
Google sells out to advertisers, who are allowed to promote their own websites on Google's search engine for a price. As Google's search engine loses quality, it is overtaken by MSN's search engine. As attempts to recover grow more desperate, Google's "do no evil" reputation vanishes forever and Microsoft moves in for the kill.
Scenario 4 (Circa 2105): Google is G-d
Google proves itself to be ultimate master and commander of the universe and engulfs any that dare oppose it. Now we are all Google...
Obviously, these scenarios are done with a certain amount of creative license and the piece is fairly satirical, but they do show up the possible routes which Google could go down in the future, albeit to an extreme extent. Will they remain the friendly internet company next door, or evolve into the sort of despised mega-company Microsoft became. Only time will tell.