GDayX: Googlecentric

by Jonathan Idolor

2013-14792

The talks I listened to for the GDayX talk were mostly focused on Google and its many features. Being adequately versed in the online world, I was curious to see the new things I could learn from the speakers.

In light of recent events, the first speaker I listened to tackled the problem of the communication gap in the relief efforts for Yolanda. Collaboration is the word that stuck to me and proved to be the strongest feature Google offers. Any team, any time, any place, any device. In today’s world of ever-changing colleagues, workplaces, and technology, especially for students such as myself, these are very promising and useful features. But the speaker also gave a counter example, of how the division in government has led to slower work and collaboration, in line with the relief operations, despite the available resources of communication. For the benefit of communities, Google has Public Alerts, Crisis Maps, Person Finder, all the info gathered and collated. Based on experience, most Filipinos would volunteer rather than spend time trying to learn and understand this info; that is if they knew that info existed. Why did I only hear of this now? Am I not connected enough in my online circles to know about these projects?

The greatest limitation for me is that Google is still based on internet connection. Unlike downloadable versions of encyclopedias, Google’s vast array of articles and databases is virtually nonexistent without internet. And I am very confident in saying that not everyone is gifted with an internet connection, and a fast one at that. For features such as drive, you will need to be online in order to edit from an Android device. You can’t meet in a room and just connect by Bluetooth (a feature which, I think, is slowly dying out) in order to edit a document. You can edit it in your computer but another problem is what if you edit something someone else edits and sync it online, which copy is correct?

Sometimes it gets confusing with all the people you’re connected to. Everyone is socializing online. You can be whoever you want. Just crop, edit, beautify, use only the best pictures to show your best side. Even live stream can make you look good. Yes, there are still people who do not pretend to be anyone but how can you really tell? With technology and innovation for learning and finding things comes the same resources to hide, disguise, and edit ourselves. Along with the changes we make online, technology, in turn, changes us. Our priorities change, one speaker said that some people prioritize technological freebies over salary in choosing jobs. A lot of people are also becoming Googlecentric. When in doubt, Google it.

But no matter what, without the human element, communication, collaboration, and information, will all seem unnatural. Technology truly is a double edged sword; and without the know-how to use it, it can either do nothing or be harmful.­