Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Argument ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Short history of Google ............................................................................................................................. 4 2. Google products ........................................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Google Search ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Gmail ................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Google Chrome OS .............................................................................................................................. 7 2.4 Google Chrome ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Google Maps ....................................................................................................................................... 8 2.6 Google+ ............................................................................................................................................... 9 2.7 YouTube .............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.8 Android (operating system) .............................................................................................................. 10 2.9 AdSense............................................................................................................................................. 10 3. Googleplex .............................................................................................................................................. 11 4. "Don`t be evil" ......................................................................................................................................... 12 5. Googlization ............................................................................................................................................ 13 5.1 History of Googlization ..................................................................................................................... 13 5.2 Definition of Googlization ................................................................................................................. 13 5.3 Criticisms of Googlization ................................................................................................................. 14 5.4 Defense of Googlization .................................................................................................................... 14 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Bibliography: ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Appendices:................................................................................................................................................. 18
Argument
It is a well known fact that we take many things in our lives for granted. From electricity, to how our showers work, to medicine and so on and so forth. But, I think that nowadays, the world would be particularly hard to imagine without the Internet. The Internet is something that has made our lives much easier in the past 10 years, since it has hit the mainstream in my county. If we want to know the weather forecast for tomorrow, we can find it much faster than say, waiting for it to come up on TV again. If we want to find out something, be it about history, economics, technology or anything else, it is faster to look it up online, than going to the library to look for a book in that particular field and the list just goes on. So time ago, somebody said "Knowledge is power" and I believe that it is today`s most important resource, and the reason why we are living in the most prosperous age of mankind from almost all points of view. And who is our best friend when searching for basically, anything on the Internet? Google. Although most people know of it solely as a search engine, there is more to it than meets the eye. Google Inc. is an American multinational internet and software corporation invested in internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program. The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, often dubbed the "Google Guys", while the two were attending Stanford University as PhD candidates. It was first incorporated as a privately held company on September 4, 1998, and its initial public offering followed on August 19, 2004. At that time Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Eric Schmidt agreed to work together at Google for twenty years, until the year 2024. The company's mission statement from the outset was "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful", and the company's unofficial slogan coined by Google engineer Amit Patel and supported by Paul Buchheit is "Don't be evil". In 2006, the company moved to its current headquarters in Mountain View, California. Google's rapid growth since its incorporation has triggered a chain of products, acquisitions, and partnerships beyond the company's core web search engine. The company offers online productivity software, such as the Gmail email service, the Google Docs office suite, and the Google+ social networking service. Google's products extend to the desktop as well, with applications such as the Google Chrome web browser, the Picasa photo organizing and editing software, and the Google Talk instant messaging application. Google leads the development of the Android mobile operating system, as well as the Google Chrome OS browser-only operating system, found on specialized laptops called Chromebooks. Google has been estimated to run over one million servers in data centers around the world, and process over one billion search requests and about twenty-four petabytes of usergenerated data every day. Alexa lists the main U.S.-focused google.com site as the Internet's most visited website, and numerous international Google are in the top hundred, as are several other Google-owned sites such as YouTube , Blogger , and Orkut. Google also ranks number two in the BrandZ brand equity database.
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followed by a googol zeroes. The Googleplex interiors were designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects. Three years later, Google would buy the property from SGI for $319 million. By that time, the name "Google" had found its way into everyday language, causing the verb "google" to be added to the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary, denoted as "to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the Internet." In May 2011, unique visitors of Google surpassed 1 billion mark for the first time, an 8.4 percent increase from a year ago with 931 million unique visitors.
2. Google products2
2.1 Google Search
Google or Google Web Search is a web search engine owned by Google Inc. Google Search is the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web, receiving several hundred million queries each day through its various services. The order of search results on Google's search-results pages is based, in part, on a priority rank called a "PageRank". Google Search provides many options for customized search, using Boolean operators such as: exclusion ("-xx"), alternatives ("xx OR yy"), and wildcard ("x * x"). The main purpose of Google Search is to hunt for text in Web pages, as opposed to other data, such as with Google Image Search. Google Search was originally developed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1997. Google Search provides at least 22 special features beyond the original word-search capability. These include synonyms, weather forecasts, time zones, stock quotes, maps, earthquake data, movie showtimes, airports, home listings, and sports scores. There are special features for numbers, including ranges (70..73), prices, temperatures, money/unit conversions ("10.5 cm in inches"), calculations ("3*4+sqrt(6)-pi/2"), package tracking, patents, area codes, and language translation of displayed pages. In June 2011, Google introduced "Google Voice Search" and "Search by Image" features for allowing the users to search words by speaking and by giving images. The frequency of use of many search terms have reached a volume that they may indicate broader economic, social and health trends. Data about the frequency of use of search terms on Google (available through Google Adwords, Google Trends, and Google Insights for Search) have been shown to correlate with flu outbreaks and unemployment levels and provide the information faster than traditional reporting methods and government surveys. Google search consists of a series of localized websites. The largest of those, the google.com site, is the top most-visited website in the world. Some of its features include a definition link for most searches including dictionary words, the number of results you got on your search, links to other searches (e.g. for words that Google believes to be misspelled, it provides a link to the search results using its proposed spelling), and many more. Google's search engine normally accepts queries as a simple text, and breaks up the user's text into a sequence of search terms, which will usually be words that are to occur in the results, but one can also use Boolean operators, such as: quotations marks (") for a phrase, a prefix such as "+" , "-" for qualified terms (no longer valid, the '+' was removed from google on 10/19/11), or one of several advanced operators, such as "site:". The webpages of "Google Search Basics" describe each of these additional queries and options (see below: Search options). Google's Advanced Search web form gives several additional fields which may be used to qualify searches by such criteria as date of first retrieval. All advanced queries transform to regular queries, usually with additional qualified term.
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On certain occasions, the logo on Google's webpage will change to a special version, known as a "Google Doodle". Clicking on the Doodle links to a string of Google search results about the topic. The first was a reference to the Burning Man Festival in 1998, and others have been produced for the birthdays of notable people like Albert Einstein, historical events like the interlocking Lego block's 50th anniversary and holidays like Valentine's Day. In late June 2011, Google introduced a new look to the Google home page in order to boost the use of the Google+ social tools. One of the major changes was replacing the classic navigation bar with a black one. Google's digital creative director Chris Wiggins explains: "We're working on a project to bring you a new and improved Google experience, and over the next few months, you'll continue to see more updates to our look and feel." The new navigation bar has been negatively received by a vocal minority.
2.2 Gmail
Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though still in beta status at that time. The service was upgraded from beta status on July 7, 2009, along with the rest of the Google Apps suite. With an initial storage capacity offer of 1 GB per user, Gmail significantly increased the webmail standard for free storage from the 2 to 4 MB its competitors such as Hotmail offered at that time. Individual Gmail messages, including attachments, may be up to 25 MB, which is larger than many other mail services support. Gmail has a search-oriented interface and a "conversation view" similar to an Internet forum. Gmail is noted by web developers for its pioneering use of AJAX. Gmail runs on Google GFE/2.0 on Linux. As of October 2011, it had 260 million users worldwide. Google has announced that starting November 22, 2011 they will not support the Gmail for BlackBerry native application, although BlackBerry users can continue to access Gmail through the mobile web app in their BlackBerry web browser.
Google Chrome OS is aimed at users who spend most of their computer time on the Internet, the only application on the device is a browser incorporating a media player and a file manager. The expected launch date for retail hardware featuring Chrome OS slipped after Google first announced the operating system: from an initial forecast date in late 2010 to June 15, 2011, when "Chromebooks" from Samsung (and then Acer in July) actually shipped.
2.6 Google+
Google+ is a social networking and identity service, operated by Google Inc. The service was launched on June 28, 2011, in an invite-only "field testing" phase. The following day, existing users were allowed to invite friends who were over 18 years of age to the service to create their own accounts. This was suspended the next day due to an "insane demand" for accounts. On August 6, each Google+ member had 150 invitations to give out, but on September 20, 2011, Google+ was opened to everyone 18 years of age or older without the need for an invitation. After Google+ went public, users registered to Google+, but those under 18 years of age were unable to sign up for Google+. Google+ integrates social services such as Google Profiles and Google Buzz, and introduces new services identified as Circles, Hangouts and Sparks. Google+ is available as a web site, and will be available as a desktop application, and is already available as a mobile application, but only on the Android and iOS operating systems. Google has launched an API platform for developers. Sources such as The New York Times have declared it Google's biggest attempt to rival the social network Facebook, which had over 800 million users in 2011. At the initial launch, Google Apps accounts could not be used on Google+ due to lack of support for Google Profiles. On October 27, Google announced that Google+ now supports Google Apps users (if the user's domain administrator has enabled the service). Google+ is considered the company's fourth foray into social networking, following Google Buzz (launched 2010, retired in 2011), Google Friend Connect (launched 2008, to be retired by March 2012) and orkut (launched in 2004, now operated entirely by subsidiary Google Brazil).
2.7 YouTube
In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google Inc. for US$1.65 billion, and now operates as a subsidiary of Google. YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos. The company is based in San Bruno, California, and uses Adobe Flash Video and HTML5 technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos. Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, BBC, VEVO, Hulu, and other organizations offer some of their material via the site, as part of the YouTube partnership program. Unregistered users may watch videos, and registered users may upload an unlimited number of videos. Videos that are considered to contain potentially offensive content are available only to registered users 18 years old and older.
2.9 AdSense
Google AdSense which is a program run by Google Inc. allows publishers in the Google Network of content sites to automatically serve text, image, video, and rich media adverts that are targeted to site content and audience. These adverts are administered, sorted, and maintained by Google, and they can generate revenue on either a per-click or per-impression basis. Google beta tested a cost-per-action service, but discontinued it in October 2008 in favor of a DoubleClick offering (also owned by Google). In Q1 2011, Google earned US$2.34 billion ($9.36 billion annualized), or 28% of total revenue, through AdSense
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3. Googleplex
The Googleplex3 is the corporate headquarters complex of Google, Inc., located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California, United States, near San Jose. The Googleplex is one of the company's 23 U.S. and Canadian locations. Google also maintains 23 European locations, 14 Asia/Pacific locations, 5 Middle East locations, and 3 Latin American locations. The four core buildings, totaling 47,038 square meters (506,310 sq ft), were built for and originally occupied by Silicon Graphics (SGI). The office space and corporate campus is located within a larger 26-acre (110,000 m2) site that contains Charleston Park, a 5-acre (20,000 m2) public park; improved access to Permanente Creek; and public roads that connect the corporate site to Shoreline Park and the Bay Trail. The project, launched in 1994 to reclaim a former industrial brownfield, was a creative collaboration between SGI, SWA Group of San Francisco, Sausalito, and the Planning and Community Development Agency of the City of Mountain View. The objective was to develop in complementary fashion the privately-owned corporate headquarters and adjoining public greenspace. Key design decisions placed parking for nearly 2000 cars underground, enabling SWA to integrate the two open spaces with water features, shallow pools, fountains, pathways, plazas, and a gigantic statue of a dinosaur. The project was completed in 1997. The ASLA noted in 1999 that the SGI project was a significant departure from typical corporate campuses, challenging conventional thinking about private and public space. STUDIOS Architecture was the executive architect for the original SGI campus, and provided both interior architecture and base building design. The former SGI facilities were leased by Google beginning in 2003. A redesign of the interiors was completed by Clive Wilkinson Architects in 2005. In June 2006, Google purchased some of Silicon Graphics' properties, including the Googleplex, for $319 million. Since the buildings are of relatively low height, the complex sprawls out over a large amount of land. The interior of the headquarters is furnished with items like shade lamps and giant rubber balls. The lobby contains a piano and a projection of current live Google search queries. Facilities include a gym, free laundry rooms , two small swimming pools, multiple sand volleyball courts, and eighteen cafeterias of diverse selection. Google has also installed replicas of SpaceShipOne and a dinosaur skeleton. Since 2007 the site has featured a series of solar panels, covering the rooftops of eight buildings and two solar carports capable of producing 1.6 megawatts of electricity. At the time of installation Google believed it to be the largest in the United States among corporations. The panels provide the power needed for 30% of the peak electricity demand in their solar-powered buildings.
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4. "Don`t be evil"
"Don't be evil" is the informal corporate motto (or slogan) of Google, originally suggested by Google employees Paul Buchheit and Amit Patel at a meeting. Buchheit, the creator of Gmail, said he "wanted something that, once you put it in there, would be hard to take out," adding that the slogan was "also a bit of a jab at a lot of the other companies, especially our competitors, who at the time, in our opinion, were kind of exploiting the users to some extent." While the official corporate philosophy of Google does not contain the words "Don't be evil", they were included in the prospectus (aka "S-1") of Google's 2004 IPO (a letter from Google's founders, later called the "'Don't Be Evil' manifesto"): "Dont be evil. We believe strongly that in the long term, we will be better served as shareholders and in all other ways by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short term gains." The sixth point of the 10-point corporate philosophy of Google says "You can make money without doing evil." The motto is sometimes incorrectly stated as Do no evil. "Don't be evil" is said to recognize that large corporations often maximize short-term profits with actions that may not be in the best interests of the public. Supposedly, by instilling a Don't Be Evil culture, the corporation establishes a baseline for honest decision-making that disassociates Google from any and all cheating. This in turn can enhance the trust and image of the corporation that outweighs short-term gains from violating the Don't Be Evil principles. While many companies have ethical codes to govern their conduct, Google claims to have made "Don't Be Evil" a central pillar of their identity, and part of their self-proclaimed core values.
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5. Googlization
Googlization is a neologism that describes the perceived 'creep' of Google's search technologies and aesthetics into more and more web applications and contexts, including traditional institutions such as the library (see Google Books Library Project). The rapid rise of search media, particularly Google, is part of new media history and draws attention to issue of access and to relationships between commercial interests and media. The term Googlization should not be confused with the term Googleopoly.
Google makes it easy & convenient to find in one place, however, Google only makes information which already exists more accessible, rather than creating new information.
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Others have pointed out that the majority of the criticism directed at Google comes from its rivals and competitors. Amongst ordinary internet users however, Google is viewed fairly favorably as a search tool and as a company in general. In late March 2010, Google discontinued their China-based search engine whilst continuing to offer their uncensored Hong Kong-based search engine. Google has initially offered a somewhat censored version of their search engine in China. They reversed this decision when they decided that it was in conflict with their mission and their ideals. Speaking for Google, one of its founders, Sergey Brin, said "One of the reasons I am glad we are making this move in China is that the China situation was really emboldening other countries to try and implement their own firewalls.". In another interview, Brin said For us it has always been a discussion about how we can best fight for openness on the Internet. We believe that this is the best thing that we can do for preserving the principles of the openness and freedom of information on the Internet."
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Conclusion
Today Google has a dominant controlling share of the search market. Google is the most widely used search engine on the internet with a 54% market share. Yahoo! Is Googles closest rival with 23%, less than half of Googles share, and MSN even falls far short of Yahoo!, lagging far behind in 3rd place with a 13% market share. If these figures arent impressive enough for Google, independent estimates say that more than 80% of search referrals come from Google Google receives about a billion search requests per day and with estimates that Google makes 12 cents for every search you perform, you can see that Google corporation is a very lucrative business! Google has come a long way from the garage office and the crude mechanism of BackRub. With the many many applications and products that Google has brought out, and the control it has over the internet it is possible that Google will become a very influential part of all of our lives in years to come.
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Bibliography:
1. Time Magazine 2. Maximum PC Magazine 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googleplex 5. http://www.bighistory.net 6. http://www.evolution-seo.co.uk
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Appendices:
1. Larry Page and Sergey Brin
2. Google Products
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3. Googleplex
4. Googlization
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