Google opens internet cafe...

[liam_d]

Google has opened a free internet cafe in heathrow airport! (London).

Source: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0...29256&from=rss

[MattEvers]

Pretty cool....still keeping the business mind, though...

[Ryos]

That's just the start of it, in a few years those free internet cafes will be hooked up to the new Googlenet. They're going to start their own internet system.

[dvduval]

It's pretty scary how big google is getting, and also how much data they are collecting about each and every one of us. I'm not one to be paranoid, but I'm starting to think that if they are going to pretty much rule the internet I may want to take some steps to limit the data I provide to them...
...maybe using their internet cafes will provide annonymity?

[Design Agent]

Originally Posted by dvduval

...maybe using their internet cafes will provide annonymity?

Not a chance, the cafes are so they can watch how people interact with their products..

[kniveswood]

Originally Posted by Design Agent

Not a chance, the cafes are so they can watch how people interact with their products..

Great insight!

[Design Agent]

Hardly

"they admit the main reason they're doing it is to get as wide and as large a cross section of people through the centre as they can so that they can then watch them interact with Google's Web applications"

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0...29256&from=rss

[Amsterdam]

After all the talk of Microsoft taking over the planet it has now become the norm to have a go at Google for being so successful. But I'm willing to bet that most of the critics just wish their business was so big.

Personally, I think it's too late to be concerned about 'Big Brother' type tactics because this data gathering about consumers is happening everywhere we go whether we like it or not.

Anyway, watching people interacting with your web applications is part of market research isn't it? And the last I heard, that was a legitimate business tactic.

T

[Crusader]

It seems Google is the new Microsoft. More and more people are jumping on the "beware of Google" bandwagon.

Personally I would glady allow Google to take over the world!

[liam_d]

Difference is people generally like google more than MS.

I welcome them as all there services are good for me.

[Crusader]

Couldn't aree more. At least with Google you are assured of a good product.

[Design Agent]

Originally Posted by Crusader

It seems Google is the new Microsoft. More and more people are jumping on the "beware of Google" bandwagon.

Personally I would glady allow Google to take over the world!

And what happens when the original owners are no longer involved and their ideologies are washed away..

Its not a bandwagon, but Google is now owned by shareholders - many of their interest is the return on their investment, not how it is achieved.

[Solicitors Mortgages]

Originally Posted by Design Agent

"they admit the main reason they're doing it is to get as wide and as large a cross section of people through the centre as they can so that they can then watch them interact with Google's Web applications"

and the line...
"the temporary installation will be manned from 0700 to 1900 by Google employees from across the organisation, with some flown in especially to help out."

I'm off to ask someone about pagerank

[honey]

That's pretty interesting. I will plan my next international trip via Heathrow. lol

[Arnie]

Originally Posted by Design Agent

And what happens when the original owners are no longer involved and their ideologies are washed away..

Its not a bandwagon, but Google is now owned by shareholders - many of their interest is the return on their investment, not how it is achieved.

That's a good point. In whose hand will it be and what are the motives?

[liam_d]

Originally Posted by Arnie

That's a good point. In whose hand will it be and what are the motives?

The shareholders will want more money of course, so whatever they can expand google into they will...

[frenchmen77]

leave it to google =)

[heapseo]

Originally Posted by Crusader

It seems Google is the new Microsoft. More and more people are jumping on the "beware of Google" bandwagon.

Only the ones who can't rank well with them or got screwed by jagger

[discoverclips]

I prefer google over microsoft though..

[dougadam]

I wish there was one in my town.