Who's afraid of Google

Wired Magazine is featuring a story entitled Who’s afraid of Google in the December 2005 issue.

The story talks about how Google is entering into the online lives of many people and businesses around the globe each day and how it’s getting bigger.

Whilst holding short of saying outright that you should be afraid, I have a different view. Think of this for a moment.

In a given day people are using products (software / hardware) from many well known branded global companies, each in tier own way trying to carve up thier own piece of your attention. Those companies are the same ones mentioned in this article.

I don’t think people should fear Google fo what they are doing, or what they propose to do, primarily because it’s already happening now. It’s just not �ne company. They’re all doing it, one way or another.

Do you honestly think that HP doesn’t know that you are running Microsoft office on your PC, or that you have a Creative Labs sound card, or that you use a Canon printer with your PC ? Of course they know. It’s the serial number, drivers and the internet stupid. They know and thay use that information.

If privacy is the problem, then equality of access is the issue. If you know something about me, thengive me access to what you know. That way we both win.