Tuesday, April 6, 2010
our culture
I think that a new book should be written regarding how Google has transformed our culture. I use Google Search but not nearly as much as I use Google docs, Gmail, etc. I think we should talk about how Google has transformed our culture and web usage.
Thoughts on the Book
So I finally finished the book.
Google Today and Tomorrow
This Chapter just went over some things that have been happening recently and some of their plans
Perfect Search
Battelle gives his thoughts on the idea of perfect search. He talks about a world where everything is tagged as completely as possible to make it realistic for us to search for stuff and recieve every possible answer out there.
Discussion Question: What do you think about a world where every single thing, your keys, and kids location, is searchable on Google?
In the very final chapter, written in retrospect, Battelle discusses the governments demand for an entire report on Google's index of porn, and they refused.
Discussion Question: Who is ultimatly responsible/ the owner of the Internet?
Overall I hated the beginning and loved the end. Its as though they should be two seperate sections. Although the History of Search is interesting in and of itself, I don't think it is essential for the second half of the book.
I think it would be interesting to do some further research into what has changed, where Google is, and where all its competitors are. It was funny to read about things Google was "thinking" about doing. For example Google, during the books time, claimed not to be looking into having its own wireless, but now they are coming out with The Fiber.
~Christina
Google Today and Tomorrow
This Chapter just went over some things that have been happening recently and some of their plans
Perfect Search
Battelle gives his thoughts on the idea of perfect search. He talks about a world where everything is tagged as completely as possible to make it realistic for us to search for stuff and recieve every possible answer out there.
Discussion Question: What do you think about a world where every single thing, your keys, and kids location, is searchable on Google?
In the very final chapter, written in retrospect, Battelle discusses the governments demand for an entire report on Google's index of porn, and they refused.
Discussion Question: Who is ultimatly responsible/ the owner of the Internet?
Overall I hated the beginning and loved the end. Its as though they should be two seperate sections. Although the History of Search is interesting in and of itself, I don't think it is essential for the second half of the book.
I think it would be interesting to do some further research into what has changed, where Google is, and where all its competitors are. It was funny to read about things Google was "thinking" about doing. For example Google, during the books time, claimed not to be looking into having its own wireless, but now they are coming out with The Fiber.
~Christina
Another Discussion Question Idea..
Google's mantra "Don't Be Evil" seems like common sense, but in the Google world of information and power their responsibility has proven to be a very subjective matter. What are some of the ways in which Google must be careful with their immense power?
- Google Maps/Reverse number look up
- Changing algorithms and hurting legit small businesses
- How Google manages all the personal information it compiles - PATRIOT ACT
- China censorship problem..
Can you think of any that aren't mentioned in the book?
Some thoughts...
After reading more and more of The Search, I feel like the best decision is to not recommend this book in its entirety. There is a lot of superfluous information that doesn't really follow the main content of a course on networking information and/or the wisdom of crowds. Chapter 7 is an example of this. Titled "The Search Economy, this section of the book is more focused on those individuals who have made money off of the Google business model and their search engine. Although interesting, it doesn't really provide a lot information that would be necessary for such a course. On the other hand, sections like Chapters 1-3 fit in perfectly. So instead of assigning the whole book, there are specific portions of The Search that would provide good supplemental knowledge to the course.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Overture and Google
The story of Bill Gross and Overture is one of the most interesting stories in the book in my eyes. Gross was the one that really figured all of this out but Google are the ones that are making billions off of his idea. Gross obviously has done fine for himself but he is still the one that really figured out this multi billion dollar industry, he just couldn't put all the pieces together.
It reminds me of the Microsoft/Apple backstory a little bit in the sense that Google more or less stole his idea, made it theirs, and made it work. Gross is by no means failing and he has been plenty successful, I just think it's crazy that he made all of it happen and no one remembers him, Overture, or GoTo.
Potential Discussion Questions
Here are just a couple potential discussion questions that I've came up with that we can talk about in our meeting.
2. What are some privacy concerns associated with search that Google has had to deal with?
3. Explain the connection between backlinks and research paper citation
4. Why are backlinks the most effective means to categorize sites? How does this relate to the networking content we have studied in the course?
Presentation
I was thinking that starting a Google Doc/Presenation would allow us to throw idea on the powerpoint for the presentation. This way we have an outline before we meet and the time spent in the meeting is cut down. here is the link. invites have been sent.
here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=dgm977fm_24gtj4g6cz
here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=dgm977fm_24gtj4g6cz
Discussion Question Idea
Q: What are the three main characteristics of a search engine?
A: 1.) Crawl - The search for web content. Early search programs started off finding only documents and URLs, more specifically as educational articles/journals. Crawl has expanded to find video, audio, images, shopping content, etc.
2.) Index - The list of locations of the content found by the crawler. The larger the index, the better the search engine. The goal of all search engines is to index the entire WWW.
3.) The Runtime/Query System - the interface and related software that connects a user’s queries to the index, also manages relevance and importance. The box where queries are entered, and the results page that follows.
A: 1.) Crawl - The search for web content. Early search programs started off finding only documents and URLs, more specifically as educational articles/journals. Crawl has expanded to find video, audio, images, shopping content, etc.
2.) Index - The list of locations of the content found by the crawler. The larger the index, the better the search engine. The goal of all search engines is to index the entire WWW.
3.) The Runtime/Query System - the interface and related software that connects a user’s queries to the index, also manages relevance and importance. The box where queries are entered, and the results page that follows.
Chapter 3 - Search Before Google
I found Chapter 3 extremely interesting because it provides the history of search engines. I have a basic knowledge of the history of the internet, as an educational tool to link information from different schools together, but I never realized that search existed this far back. The first two were called Archie and Veronica.
Moving further, I was fascinated by the fact that AltaVista.com is considered by Battelle to be the first really good search engine for the modern web. He called it "the Google of its time". I can't even remember the last time I visited AltaVista and I use Google multiple times a day. It is interesting to think of how quickly AltaVista went from the leader to not even being a household name. I can almost guarantee all high schoolers know of Google, and a very little percentage of them have even heard of AltaVista. AltaVista's demise came quickly because of poor management and a even worse business plan. It points out how special Google's executive decisions must be.
Moving further, I was fascinated by the fact that AltaVista.com is considered by Battelle to be the first really good search engine for the modern web. He called it "the Google of its time". I can't even remember the last time I visited AltaVista and I use Google multiple times a day. It is interesting to think of how quickly AltaVista went from the leader to not even being a household name. I can almost guarantee all high schoolers know of Google, and a very little percentage of them have even heard of AltaVista. AltaVista's demise came quickly because of poor management and a even worse business plan. It points out how special Google's executive decisions must be.
Discussion Questions
1. Google is able to see what Americans are interested in at a given time because of the search. How has this translated into a major business oppurtunity?
2. What will the future hold in terms of search?
3. Google was able to push to the top because of the unique design and different approach of the search. What other factors do you think contributed to the success of Google above Yahoo, Ask Jeeves Alta Vista, and GoTo?
4. in July 2001 Google developed the core value and principle of the business as "Don't Be Evil." Do you feel that the image that Google has portrayed in the past and present has been true to "Don't Be Evil"??
2. What will the future hold in terms of search?
3. Google was able to push to the top because of the unique design and different approach of the search. What other factors do you think contributed to the success of Google above Yahoo, Ask Jeeves Alta Vista, and GoTo?
4. in July 2001 Google developed the core value and principle of the business as "Don't Be Evil." Do you feel that the image that Google has portrayed in the past and present has been true to "Don't Be Evil"??
Thoughts of the The Search
I finally made it back from Toronto and have internet access. This is my first post!! Every time I log on to blogger to write a post, I sit here staring at the screen trying to figure out how I really feel about the book....Maybe it was because I was still in the first half of the book, which was very hard to get through for some reason.
The opening was great and I had a few laughs becasue his opening briefly explains how Google knows everything about America. He had me fooled that the book was going to be a quick awesome read. However, the first half book was a little boring to me. The sections discussing "Who, What, Where, Why, and How(Much)" I felt was the worst part of the book. It may be the fact that I am not really that interested in how the search works. I just need to know that it works!
Chapter 3 "Search Before Google" was a little better than the chapters before. It makes since that he should write about the search engines before Google. I never knew Archie, WebCrawler, and Alta Vista ever existed. It was educational, but as I was reading, I kept thinking "When his he going to get to Google?"
The book started to kick up and get intersting when he got into the history of Yahoo and GoTo.com. Bill Gross was a very interesting and important person as far as Search but I think he didn't get enough credit because Google kind of stole his shine. Of course Google takes his idea of the pay per click later when the NASDAQ crashes.
At the end of Chapter 5 had a feeling that Gross's new search idea "SNAP" may have been the begging of "Bing."
The second half of the book was great. It starts to heat up when he tells the success story of Google. the success story and history really does explain why Google became on top. the wanted things their way or no way. everytging they did had some type of buzz, whether it was good or bad. Hey at least people were talking about it. In a way the rest of the book gave me this feeling the Google is a company that is cocky high on itself. Google has become a "house hold" name. when we speak to our friends and family and we are not familiar with the topic, we simply say "Google it." Since when did a company become a VERB? After the Google search engine was established!!
The opening was great and I had a few laughs becasue his opening briefly explains how Google knows everything about America. He had me fooled that the book was going to be a quick awesome read. However, the first half book was a little boring to me. The sections discussing "Who, What, Where, Why, and How(Much)" I felt was the worst part of the book. It may be the fact that I am not really that interested in how the search works. I just need to know that it works!
Chapter 3 "Search Before Google" was a little better than the chapters before. It makes since that he should write about the search engines before Google. I never knew Archie, WebCrawler, and Alta Vista ever existed. It was educational, but as I was reading, I kept thinking "When his he going to get to Google?"
The book started to kick up and get intersting when he got into the history of Yahoo and GoTo.com. Bill Gross was a very interesting and important person as far as Search but I think he didn't get enough credit because Google kind of stole his shine. Of course Google takes his idea of the pay per click later when the NASDAQ crashes.
At the end of Chapter 5 had a feeling that Gross's new search idea "SNAP" may have been the begging of "Bing."
The second half of the book was great. It starts to heat up when he tells the success story of Google. the success story and history really does explain why Google became on top. the wanted things their way or no way. everytging they did had some type of buzz, whether it was good or bad. Hey at least people were talking about it. In a way the rest of the book gave me this feeling the Google is a company that is cocky high on itself. Google has become a "house hold" name. when we speak to our friends and family and we are not familiar with the topic, we simply say "Google it." Since when did a company become a VERB? After the Google search engine was established!!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Google Goes Public
In this chapter Battelle details the events of Google Going Public. Basically Google was really arrogant, had poor planning, and screwed some stuff up and their asking price had to be lowered, and then went back up to 200 by November and $300 by early summer.
Group Meeting Friday 4/2
Oh yeah, we met on Friday to discuss our plans for finishing the book and working on the presentation.
We plan on meeting for several hours on Tuesday evening to iron out the presentation.
We plan on meeting for several hours on Tuesday evening to iron out the presentation.
Search, Privacy, Government and Evil
Chapter 8 is about how the internet has changed our lives.
Battelle talks about how things that have always been public are even more so now because people are much more likely to access our personal public data when it is as simple as a Google search and historically it required hours of searching through papers in the basement of a court house.
He also talks about "Search Me" and how looking to see how you are portrayed on a search is suddenly important because people who don't know you will be searching for you and finding out about you.
Even more controversial is the Patriot Act that arose from 9/11. All of the data that Google saves on you to advertise to you most efficiently, can be demanded from the Government without your knowledge. With how much information people keep about themselves on the internet (Facebook, Gmail, Search History...), the government can essentially have a search warrant out on you without your knowledge.
Discussion Question: Is it going against Google's Policy of being the least evil possible to give information to the Government? Is it evil if they are compelled by the Government? Is viewing this as evil a distrust of Google or a distrust of our Government?
The Great Firewall of China
The basic problem: China goes to extreme lengths to censor the Internet in China. Should search engines cater to this?
Discussion Question: Is it right for Google and other search engines to filter results based upon the location where the search is occurring?
Example: In China, you may not search Google for any information regarding the Tiannamen Square Massacre. (This blog post will likely now be censored in China). The Chinese government is rumored to deny the occurrence of this event to the Chinese people.
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/161994-aznita-ahmad-pharmy.html
When I lived in China, Facebook was often blocked, and I believed it has been permanently blocked in light of recent events. http://www.statepress.com/2010/04/04/chinese-censorship-an-economic-issue-for-u-s/
According to Battelle: "After the shutdown, when Google users in China search for something that might return banned results, they see the links, but when they click on one, they are redirected to a government-approved site." Recentally there was a Google.cn website available and there is one based in Hong Kong that is not censored.
In case you are unaware of what happened regarding Google and China: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/chinese-university-u-ties-accused-google-cyberattacks
When Google News was released: Google got rid of the censored search results claiming that including them would create a poor user experience.
Discussion Question: Should the Chinese Google users have the right to know what news they are missing out on, in the same way they know which sites they are not allowed to view? Or should search engines respect Countries Government Regulations?
Discussion Question: In working with China's censorship policies, has Google become an accessory to evil?
Battelle talks about how things that have always been public are even more so now because people are much more likely to access our personal public data when it is as simple as a Google search and historically it required hours of searching through papers in the basement of a court house.
He also talks about "Search Me" and how looking to see how you are portrayed on a search is suddenly important because people who don't know you will be searching for you and finding out about you.
Even more controversial is the Patriot Act that arose from 9/11. All of the data that Google saves on you to advertise to you most efficiently, can be demanded from the Government without your knowledge. With how much information people keep about themselves on the internet (Facebook, Gmail, Search History...), the government can essentially have a search warrant out on you without your knowledge.
Discussion Question: Is it going against Google's Policy of being the least evil possible to give information to the Government? Is it evil if they are compelled by the Government? Is viewing this as evil a distrust of Google or a distrust of our Government?
The Great Firewall of China
The basic problem: China goes to extreme lengths to censor the Internet in China. Should search engines cater to this?
Discussion Question: Is it right for Google and other search engines to filter results based upon the location where the search is occurring?
Example: In China, you may not search Google for any information regarding the Tiannamen Square Massacre. (This blog post will likely now be censored in China). The Chinese government is rumored to deny the occurrence of this event to the Chinese people.
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/161994-aznita-ahmad-pharmy.html
When I lived in China, Facebook was often blocked, and I believed it has been permanently blocked in light of recent events. http://www.statepress.com/2010/04/04/chinese-censorship-an-economic-issue-for-u-s/
According to Battelle: "After the shutdown, when Google users in China search for something that might return banned results, they see the links, but when they click on one, they are redirected to a government-approved site." Recentally there was a Google.cn website available and there is one based in Hong Kong that is not censored.
In case you are unaware of what happened regarding Google and China: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/chinese-university-u-ties-accused-google-cyberattacks
When Google News was released: Google got rid of the censored search results claiming that including them would create a poor user experience.
Discussion Question: Should the Chinese Google users have the right to know what news they are missing out on, in the same way they know which sites they are not allowed to view? Or should search engines respect Countries Government Regulations?
Discussion Question: In working with China's censorship policies, has Google become an accessory to evil?
Finally Something Interesting
The first 6 chapters, were largely History, and in my opinion boring. They went through pretty much the complete History of Search, which in and of itself could be interesting, but I didn't like the way it was set up. It was kind of hard for me to get through. If this book were used in class I would suggest doing some time of time line or something to keep things straight because it was not completely chronological, and I kept having to take time out to think, when the switched "topics" or "companies" what was going on in the other places at the same time.
Chapter 7 was on the Search Economy and was rather interesting. It started tackling the questions of what Google can and cannot do with the power it yields in the consumer market.
Several Discussion Questions could be taken from this chapter alone:
- Does Google have a right to do with their Search Engine as they please, or should they be regulated by strict government laws to address the legality of their actions? Should the government be allowed to dictate Google's changes to their search algorithms?
- Keeping in mind Google's goal: to preserve organic results for their customers, how would you address the "Shades of Grey" problem?
- What is a black hat practice and how do you feel about Google shooting down results they accuse of these practices? Should Google publish lists of black hat practices, and give sites a warning before they send them to the "deadly" fifteenth page?
~Christina
Chapter 7 was on the Search Economy and was rather interesting. It started tackling the questions of what Google can and cannot do with the power it yields in the consumer market.
Several Discussion Questions could be taken from this chapter alone:
- Does Google have a right to do with their Search Engine as they please, or should they be regulated by strict government laws to address the legality of their actions? Should the government be allowed to dictate Google's changes to their search algorithms?
- Keeping in mind Google's goal: to preserve organic results for their customers, how would you address the "Shades of Grey" problem?
- What is a black hat practice and how do you feel about Google shooting down results they accuse of these practices? Should Google publish lists of black hat practices, and give sites a warning before they send them to the "deadly" fifteenth page?
~Christina
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