The awesome things you can do when your key product masquerades as a mint.
Inside Google's Secret Lab
11–20 of 38 posts
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#12Here's hoping the lab is NOT ONLINE. Because maybe it seems that China might possibly want to kind of hack it.
come on google glass in china ! so that the cizitens will photograph and video all the abuse that they are subjected to with the world in real time . i do not think so
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#13Perhaps it is just late and I'm cynical but this screamed "hey we're still cool, c'mon see?" There were a series of articles about Microsoft's research projects that had the same vibe. Perhaps it is the BusinessWeek lens. Hard to say. I cringe though on that title, if its a "secret" lab then you wouldn't know about it, so it isn't secret, so what is it?
It's OK - browsing HN all day can make a lot of people cynical. I'm cynical when it comes to cynicism.
You don't need to analyze tone and phrasing here. Just look at the facts. Google has employed some of the most diverse and qualified people in the world to work in a lab with funding that most researcher-builders could only dream of. That alone should excite the mind to think of the possibilities.
We know the lab continues to develop self-driving cars, and that they've already put a bunch of miles on them. I don't care how cynical you are - that is AMAZING! Self-driving cars will change the world. Even if we can cut the death rate in half, that's over 17,000[1] loved ones who will return home each day rather than dying unexpectedly and without warning. That thought should at least inspire us! This is to say nothing of preventing minor wasteful accidents and injuries so common we measure them in millions.[1]
The lab itself might not be secret, but its projects are. Let's not argue meaningless semantics. Judging by the people who have gone into the lab, and the things that have come out so far, there's some pretty awesome stuff happening inside. I for one am thrilled to see what they come up with.
[1] http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1103.p...
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#14Here's hoping the lab is NOT ONLINE. Because maybe it seems that China might possibly want to kind of hack it.
It's all going to be made in China eventually.
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#15Perhaps it is just late and I'm cynical but this screamed "hey we're still cool, c'mon see?" There were a series of articles about Microsoft's research projects that had the same vibe. Perhaps it is the BusinessWeek lens. Hard to say. I cringe though on that title, if its a "secret" lab then you wouldn't know about it, so it isn't secret, so what is it?
It's easy to get cynical about business articles and anything with "secret" in the title. I get that way myself. But since the demise of Bell Labs, it feels like there's a big void to be filled. It probably never will be filled in the same way, but I'm happy to see a big company take on big projects. Other than CERN or NASA, I don't hear too much in the news about big budget R&D / science projects.
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#16Here's hoping the lab is NOT ONLINE. Because maybe it seems that China might possibly want to kind of hack it.
come on google glass in china ! so that the cizitens will photograph and video all the abuse that they are subjected to with the world in real time . i do not think so
they already have cellphones, you know :)
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#17Here's an honest question: how do the unluckier 90 percent, who face calibration scores and Perf and closed allocation, not find themselves in revolt when they learn that others work in a blue-sky environment on challenging problems that will build their careers?
How is the fact that most people at Google won't get to work on stuff like this not a gigantic HR issue?
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#18Here's an honest question: how do the unluckier 90 percent, who face calibration scores and Perf and closed allocation, not find themselves in revolt when they learn that others work in a blue-sky environment on challenging problems that will build their careers? How is the fact that most people at Google won't get to work on stuff like this not a gigantic HR issue?
There's your one. Now stay off until tomorrow.
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#19This sounds like something straight out of Wayne Enterprises. I wish more companies could do things like this and see what can be created and achieved. An area that I could see being able to do something like this without having to face Shareholders, management, etc. that most companies have to do is Universities. University students should be able to take advantage of the resources that universities have and universities should encourage this. They could essentially have a new flock of minds every year to help innovate projects. I believe Georgia Tech started something like this a few years ago.
Re: Inside Google's Secret Lab
#20Here's an honest question: how do the unluckier 90 percent, who face calibration scores and Perf and closed allocation, not find themselves in revolt when they learn that others work in a blue-sky environment on challenging problems that will build their careers? How is the fact that most people at Google won't get to work on stuff like this not a gigantic HR issue?
it's usually a mix of things.
first, while you may be drawn to that type of work, not everyone is. some people really enjoy the work they do in other parts of the company.
second, if you're drawn to it, you need to identify the path to it and the needed qualifications. if you don't make the cut, then you know why.
that keeps it from being an exclusive "clique" with no obvious merit-based way in, which helps keep the resentment others may feel (that you bring up) down.