But this is more than just a feed of a specific topic, stream, or website, these are actual search results being pulled from the internet the second they happen, so content is not limited to what a particular source publishes. In more ways than one, it opens the door to learn about current events in a way that was never before possible. Typing in "NYC street closed" for example, could lead to tweets explaining what happened and how to detour around the block. Previously, this would have had to have been reported by a news outlet, added to their feed, and then 6-12 hours later, updated in Google's cache. Alternatively, you would have had to have been a subscriber already to access the information when it was added to the outlet's stream.
The most obvious advantages about this service is that it reduces the need for more searching. You will no longer have to wade through multiple layers of webpages to find what you are looking for in terms of current events, but will have live results immediately (for those of you looking for up to the second results). For everyone else content with Google's current system, dont worry, the regular indexed pages will show up underneath the real time results.
So the big question: how will this affect the internet as we know it today?
Obviously, the short term impact means that life will get a little bit faster. Why? Because we are finally seeing information being shared as it is created on a massive scale. Sure, Twitter and Facebook accomplish this and have been around for a while, but they have remained exclusive, with information unavailable to users who haven't subscribed or friend requested a particular source or stream. Real time searching allows all of this information to be available on a massive scale, opening it up to the public. A side effect of allowing information to be shared as it is created means that slower forms of media will become less relevant, and will dwindle in terms of audience (the same way that newspaper readership dwindled in the face of television news). My first thought is that cable news channels, already shifting to infotainment, will reduce the amount of news they broadcast even further, turning them into sheer color commentary for political agendas.
Why would I watch a cable news channel that filters the type of news I am receiving and is limited to a particular number of sources, when I could be receiving unfiltered information from people at ground zero of a particular event, news sources from around the world, opinions from leading experts, and background information from other websites? To top it off, I would be able to have the control to choose what does and does not get filtered as it is being created. Power to the people indeed.
Sure, there are pitfalls. How can we be sure the information being served up is relevant? Given the fact that Google got to where it is today based on the quality and relevance of its search engine, I can only give them the benefit of the doubt on this one, and see how it plays out in the coming days. One thing is for sure when it comes to relevancy, this will either make or break Google as a search engine contender in the future. If they wish to remain a forerunner, relevancy is of utmost importance.
In terms of accuracy and factual data: I leave this power in the hands of my peers. Misinformation has been spread and re-spread throughout history, from rumors in high school to entire events being faked (Orson Welles' broadcast of War of the Worlds). I didn't see this diminishing with the advent of the internet, nor with television news, or even with newspapers. Hell, even orators. I have no reason to believe it would disappear now that tweets, live feeds, and regular people are creating and reporting the news and live events. This problem will likely never go away as long as the human race endures.
In the end, how we use the information will be up to us. Will it be used to its full potential? Will it signal the end of television news? Will it finally mean the internet will be the ultimate form of entertainment and information? The answer really lies with us. I don't see that happening for a while, at least not until people realize that they have the control. The possibilities, however, are worth exploring.
Personally, I believe we all owe it to ourselves to stay as involved and active as possible, and try everything you possibly can; this day and age, if you snooze, you definitely lose.
0 comments:
Post a Comment