Author: Katrina Adams

Google on the Brain

I was a bit surprised today when I saw Matt’s Jaiku post about Google buying Jaiku. (See Jaiku’s announcement and Google’s blog post.) Now, I know this is a conversation that’s been going on a long time now and has been a concern for many, but it still just really amazes me and kind of catches me off guard at just how much of my everyday online experience occurs on a google.com domain or through some site that’s owned by Google.

And these are just a few of the things I/we do every day. I’m impressed that Google went with Jaiku instead of the much more publicized Twitter. Proof (to me, at least) that they’re going for quality. With this in mind, I’m wondering what’s next?

  • Will Google snatch up its own share of Facebook — just enough to edge out Microsoft? Sure Google has Orkut, but Facebook is huge … and growing exponentially… and follows the same clean and simple design that Google’s known for.
  • Will Google somehow woo Flickr users to its own online photo storage tool? (I’m just not a fan … currently … of Google’s Picasa. IMHO, Yahoo’s Flickr is still the powerhouse in this arena.)
  • Will Google overthrow the metaverse by releasing its own virtual world, eclipsing current favorites such as Second Life? Heck, we’ve already been building that virtual world for them. Check out all the cities, buildings, structures, etc. that have been built in 3-D by you and me using Google’s Sketchup software.

Wouldn’t it be great to sit in on a meeting at Google where they’re discussing all their upcoming projects/mergers. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found out our future includes:

  • Google Weather – They already have the maps. Now they just need to buy out The Weather Channel or Intellicast and overlay their weather maps.
  • Google Vacations – We (you and I) are already adding in the user reviews into Google Maps for hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Google already has a way to purchase goods/services via Google Checkout. Now all they need to do is buy out Expedia, Travelocity, or Priceline.
  • Google Movies – Google already can distribute media via Google Video or YouTube. Now they can buy out Netflix so they have the video-on-demand capabilities. Definitely subscription-based.
  • Google Library – This one’s a little tricky. Like Google Movies, would probably be subscription based. (Plus they’d have to figure out a way to restrict printing/saving/etc.) Google’s already scanning library upon library of material. Now just make it available to users to read books cover to cover. Throw in the ability to search news/journal databases, and college students worldwide would sign right up.
  • Google Conferencing – Combine Google Talk with plugins that enable a collaborative whiteboard, group voice chat, and application sharing, and you’ve got your own web conferencing tool. Watch out Elluminate Live and Horizon Wimba.

But enough dreaming. You guys can continue speculating in the comments. (It’s actually really fun pondering what Google will do next!) Needless to say, I’d be very interested in seeing this mythical Google phone we keep hearing about. Surely this device will give users very easy access to Google services… which is pretty darn impressive considering what we’ve just talked about. Steve Jobs might be a little concerned about this, come to think of it.

How the Social Web Came To Be

These two online presentations popped up in my daily feeds. Just finished reading through them and thought you’d find them interesting. An in-depth look at the history of today’s social web.

Real-Time Search Comes to Twitter

Interesting news in micro-blogging. Twitter will soon release it’s newest feature — the ability to search in real-time for key words and get results from recent twitter posts. (Read full ZDNet article here.) ZDNet notes that this will allow Twitter to become “the ultimate buzz tracker for those who are interested in what’s being talked about at any given moment in time”. The journalist in me is excited about being able to see exactly what real people worldwide are saying about real events. Definitely an interesting development…. I just wish Jaiku would step up. (IMHO, Jaiku’s just a better tool — it’s cleaner, easier, and does/did more tricks. But that’s another blog post.)

Lotus Offers Free Office Desktop Software

IBM’s recent announcement that it’s offering a IBM Lotus Symphony, a free desktop alternative to Microsoft’s Office suite, coupled with the recent release of Google’s online presentation application, should have the folks in Redmond sweating bullets. (As Matt mentioned in his Jaiku feed, IBM also recently announced its relationship with OpenOffice.org, in which they plan to contribute resources to.)

Beginning today at www.ibm.com/software/lotus/symphony, business, academic, governmental and consumer users alike can download this enterprise-grade office software, which is the same tool inside some of IBM’s most popular collaboration products, such as the recently released Lotus Notes 8.

Lotus used to be quite a powerhouse in the spreadsheet industry — Anyone remember good ol’ Lotus 1-2-3? — which makes this impressive. An old favorite coming back … for free, no less. Wouldn’t it be great if Corel released Word Perfect for free? Oh, how I miss “Reveal Codes” !

Presentations come to Google Docs

Google announced yesterday that they’ve added the ability to create/share/upload presentations using their Google Docs online application. While they’ll have to compete with established online presentation sites such as ZohoShow and Slideshare.net, Google is quickly becoming a viable alternative to Microsoft Office. Should Bill, Steve, and company be worried? I think so.



Read a review of options currently found (and missing) from Google Presentations.

Bb to Give Away $25,000 Grant for Virtual Worlds Integration

Found an interesting tidbit of info in the Campus Technology magazine that came today in the mail — “Blackboard to Give Away $25,000 Greenhouse Grant for Virtual Worlds”. This program will award the prize for successful integration of online virtual communities (i.e. There.com or Second Life) into the teaching and learning experience. Guidelines have been provided:

  • The integration of virtual worlds must enhance the student’s learning experience.
  • It must “leverage existing teaching and learning strategies and best practices”.
  • It must “integrate virtual worlds and Blackboard Enterprise Software through Blackboard Building Blocks and Blackboard PowerLinks”.
  • The Blackboard community must be able to access the results.
  • Deadline: Sept.24, 2007

Read Campus Technology article here.
Visit Blackboard’s Greenhouse Program site here.

Age Verification in Second Life

Got an interesting letter from the Lindens this morning. Hmm… is this the first step in a move toward a unified Teen+Adult Grid? Let’s hope so.

Hello, [My Account Name].

As you may have heard, we’re implementing the first stage of an Identity Verification system beginning with age. Our ultimate goal is to give Second Life Residents the opportunity to reveal as much or as little real life information about themselves as they like, and to have that information verified. We see this tool as critical to supporting Residents in shedding anonymity and building trust-based relationships — but only to the extent that they’re comfortable.

We’ve engaged the services of a third party provider, Aristotle’s Integrity, who will match information that Residents provide with information available in public records. You will be asked to provide your name, geographic location, birthdate, and an ID that is specific to your country, for example the last four digits of your social security number if you’re American. We will not be storing any information except for a code that tells us there was a positive match. Integrity will not keep any identifying information about you.

Age verification will initially be used as a way to limit access to restricted content within Second Life. Therefore, in order to enter any parcel or region which has been flagged as containing restricted content, i.e. sexual activity or extreme violence, age verification will be required to ensure only adults, or people over the age of 18, gain access. Verifying age will be voluntary, except in this context.

Prior to launching age verification throughout Second Life, we’re hoping you, the concierge customers, will help us out by trying the process and letting us know about your experience — if you were able to accurately verify your age, if the process itself is clear and understandable, and what problems you encountered. Please visit the Age Verification link available from the Your Account section of our website in the right sidebar and enter the requested information. This link is currently only available to concierge customers. When you are finished, you will be asked to take a short survey to fill us in on your experience.

For more information on Age Verification in Second Life, please visit the Second Life Blog.

Thank you very much for your help, and your continued support.

Linden Lab
Creators of Second Life

(Read LL’s blog post re: age verification.)

Merging Multitouch and the Physical World

Here’s an interesting video where physical pieces are used to manipulate simulations using a multi-touch screen. Very interesting, with potentially lots of possibilities.

Pico is a computer interface that can move electromagnetic pucks, merging the digital and physical worlds. In this video from earlier this year, see how researcher James Patten has used his unique combination of projection, magnets and computing to help visualize problems such as determining the best place to put a group of cellphone network transmission towers. Imagine the games you could play with this thing!

View Pico video.

What Growing Up with Google May Mean to Graduate Education

Occasionally, something interesting will come through the university’s Staff mailing list. Late last week, someone sent us a link to the Council of Graduate Schools‘ recent publication “What Growing Up with Google May Mean to Graduate Education“. I’m currently reading through it, and it’s just too interesting to keep to myself. Much discussion on the changes in learning/teaching methodology and learner expectations. Interesting read!

Google Sky Makes the Heavens Browsable

Google’s opened up the skies to us, as today they released the Sky View in the latest update for Google Earth. Just as you can zoom in on remote locations on Earth and see more and more details, you can zoom in on areas in space and new worlds appear. Zoom in on a perfect barred spiral galaxy, sneak a peak at the birth of a star, or get up-close and personal with the Andromeda Galaxy.

(Sorry for the extended absence, folks. Getting courses ready for the Fall semester has proven to be quite hectic. Classes have started, though, and things are settling down … knock on wood!)