Welcome to Google Island

#1

Post by scholia » Fri, May 17, 2013, 11:12 AM UTC

Welcome to Google Island
wired.com

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#2

Post by incision » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:33 PM UTC

I see it now, Google is an embryonic stage of The Culture [0].

0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#3

Post by arethuza » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:41 PM UTC

incision wrote: post #2

I see it now, Google is an embryonic stage of The Culture [0]. 0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture

"in practice social convention among the Minds prohibits them from watching, or interfering in, citizens' lives unless requested, or unless they perceive severe risk"

One of the cute things about the Culture is how damned nice the Minds are - even when they are effectively gods to their meat friends/pets/therapists.

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#4

Post by bdz » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:48 PM UTC

This. Also my first impression was a city like Rapture in Bioshock.

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#5

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:50 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#6

Post by dpcx » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:52 PM UTC

This is a very scary potential view of the future.

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#7

Post by tixocloud » Fri, May 17, 2013, 2:56 PM UTC

dpcx wrote: post #6

This is a very scary potential view of the future.

The article for some strange reason reminds me of Jonestown.

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#8

Post by flipgimble » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:01 PM UTC

While its very interesting to explore and write about the implications of Larry Page's idea of experimentation unfettered by government laws, this reads like a poorly written sci-fi story by someone interested by technology, but not knowledgeable enough to write something remotely credible. It lost me at Google Being, 'stitched from photographs'. It focuses mostly on unfettered data collection, which is the main fear of journalists writing about Google.

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#9

Post by dwild » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:06 PM UTC

flipgimble wrote: post #8

While its very interesting to explore and write about the implications of Larry Page's idea of experimentation unfettered by government laws, this reads like a poorly written sci-fi story by someone interested by technology, but not knowledgeable enough to write something remotely credible. It lost me at Google Being, 'stitched from photographs'. It focuses mostly on unfettered data collection, which is the main fear…

We should write a similar story about a world where journalists control the decision of everyone with this kind of article...

Re: Welcome to Google Island

#10

Post by EFruit » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:14 PM UTC

I am scared, intrigued, worried, and overall frightened. Not frightened by the article, but by the fact that I can't decide if I am for or against this.

I wonder at what phase 'Don't be evil' would break down, or alternatively, when their definition of 'evil' would be changed to exclude what they were doing.