In my mind the bigger announcement from Google this week was Google fiber. I spent many an hour reading about and reacting to buzz, but I think in the long term, as it relates to new media, the fiber roll out is the bigger deal.
From the Google press announcement " Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that we have in mind:
* Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.
* New deployment techniques: We'll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world.
* Openness and choice: We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way."
Well, the reaction in my community was that every tweeter and social media "guru" rushed to the forefront to say "hey, Google, we'll take some of that" I am already a member of a Google group called "Asheville's Google Fiber Initiative", and a fan of said group on Facebook. A proposal is in the works, a video being planned, analysis of what other communities are doing is taking place via the Google group. The group includes politicians (city council and county commissioners), business folk (COC reps) activists, free lancers, educators, and I suppose a lot more labels could stick. Why are we all so eager to collaborate? Because we know how, and we know that infrastructure like this will allow a future of boundless collaborative opportunities afforded by web 2.0, 3.0 and beyond apps. Second life as a truly educationally functional web app gets way more realistic at 1 Gb per second.
Ironic that now that we have a chance for infrastructure, our true geographic community comes together, so we can build better and stronger virtual communities as a result.
So, where is the bad in all of this? the conspiracy theorists are folding up tin foil hats for all of us. What is Google up to, what are they after, there must be some evil motive here? Call me naive, and educate me please if I am wrong, but I really think this is just win-win for Google. By making it easier to do what we do online, they win. In a post modern business world is that wrong?
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