Whether you think Google services are going to be the precursor to Skynet or you’re wondering how to make its Big Brother-esque worldview work for you, there’s no arguing the search engine giant is getting closer to full access of every type of personal data you can get from the Internet. Despite the urge some may feel to welcome our new robot overlords, Google’s dominance isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Why it’s good
Google Street View is one of those very handy Google services that allows you to walk the streets of countless locations in the world. It’s probably also influenced the amount of horse head masks sold as people try to get truly ridiculous as the street view car rolls past. While it might seem like Google is trying to lead us in to a dystopian future, it actually makes a lot of sense to be thrilled about the amount of information they’re compiling. Google is tracking exactly how people spend their time and resources, whether they’re looking for the best directions between cities or exercising their knowledge of common search terms people are using on a local level. This type of information might not seem significant to your business in the short term, but in the long run it’s going to be a lot more useful than you could imagine.
Augmented reality is another endeavor Google is going for that would literally put them in front of everyone’s eyes with Google Glasses. The amount of information Google continues to receive is going to get greater and greater, which will also lead to more efficient business processes… and disturbingly targeted advertisements.
Google Services - Practical applications
The practical application for Google’s seeming omnipresence is worldwide ventures like the trucking industry can take advantage of this information to lower their fuel consumption. Companies will be able to determine what their customers are looking for locally, the best routes to take and what kind of demand they’re going to have for specific products.
Google is spreading out into all sorts of areas. Consumers might just be wise to take advantage of easier access to information, even if it does get somewhat invasive. It’s always exciting to see what the next big Google innovation is going to be and figuring out exactly how to turn it to your business advantage. Use the tools and information at your fingertips to better your life in and out of the office. Just make sure to take cover if conversations turn towards Skynet.