Introducing Google Helpouts
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Introducing Google Helpouts
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Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#2This would help with the times I've just wanted to ask someone "so, does this shirt actually go with these pants, or am I totally crazy?"
All joking aside, this could be interesting. It makes me think of that service that existed for a while where you could ask a question of a topic area, and it would send an IM to people and ask them to answer it. I forget what it was called, but I used it for a little while.
The payment/HIPAA compliance aspect are pretty interesting, too. I would easily throw $50 at a 10 minute consult with a doctor instead of having to make an appointment and haul myself in to the local clinic. Particularly if said doctor could then fax a prescription for something completely boring but still not OTC to my local pharmacy.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#3It's interesting that Google seems to be moving into the freelance space. I wonder if they're going to stay in the limited fashion, or expand to go after Odesk etc.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#4This could be a great way to monetize skills.
Youtube channel with tutorials, how-to's etc. to build up your credibility.
Google Helpouts to help people directly when they want to go beyond the tutorials or get that little extra.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#5An interesting new avenue for Google, where the results and satisfaction are entirely subjective, according to perception of the customer.
With search results or Gmail they can hand-wave away dis-satisfaction my saying the 99th percentile are happy, but this is one-on-one. I can see the Money Back Guarantee being quite a support burden.
But why are Google doing this? It's not really "organizing the World's information" because it keeps knowledge compartmentalised in the 'experts'.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#6Remarkably similar to sites like https://clarity.fm/home and https://www.popexpert.com/
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#7This feels like "online tutoring to me". And as far as tutoring goes, I feel like most of the time it's better to automate it. Like using treehouse instead of getting a programming tutor.
I could see some situations where it'd be useful though.
- If you have a quick question and are really frustrated and are willing to pay.
- Sometimes you care a lot or have a lot of money, and are willing to get a tutor.
- Some things (like doctor appointments) might be better served online than in person.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#8This is obviously a Google's version of Mechanical Turk
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#9This would help with the times I've just wanted to ask someone "so, does this shirt actually go with these pants, or am I totally crazy?" All joking aside, this could be interesting. It makes me think of that service that existed for a while where you could ask a question of a topic area, and it would send an IM to people and ask them to answer it. I forget what it was called, but I used it for a little while. The pa…
Are you thinking of Aardvark? I think Google bought that a while back and then discontinued it.
Re: Introducing Google Helpouts
#10This would help with the times I've just wanted to ask someone "so, does this shirt actually go with these pants, or am I totally crazy?" All joking aside, this could be interesting. It makes me think of that service that existed for a while where you could ask a question of a topic area, and it would send an IM to people and ask them to answer it. I forget what it was called, but I used it for a little while. The pa…
Are you thinking of Aardvark? I think Google bought that a while back and then discontinued it.
Yes, thank you! That's exactly it.