Googled and facebooked

This is a two part series of observations of two of the most popular websites of today’s times.

Googled

In todays times when internet rules the media communications, two giants have popularized themselves to the core that the names of the two internet giants are synonymous with day today activities. The two giants are none other than – Google and Facebook. This post is not meant as a promotional tool for these giants, but as a personal observation into the way these giants have commanded our lives.

What started as a research project in Stanford University in January 1996 is now a name on the tip of tongue of almost everybody. Initially conceived as a search engine has fuelled itself into riding the lives pan earth. The intention to provide with a platform to access information related to any topic on the earth catapulted itself into one of the premier search partners we have today. It can no more be called merely a search engine – as it has penetrated our lives with more than plain search. Think of any topic to look for on the web and google is the first website that pops up in them ind and on the computer screen. The simplicity and no fuss website is the crowning glory that attracts millions of clicks daily. Creating a user friendly and pan age product bearing the immense complexity behind it is indeed a product of genius. The evolution of such an idea and presenting it with such a simplicity is a achievement in itself. Making it usable for people of all age groups is another feat.

What makes google even more accessible is because of the non striking commercial interface. With other websites popping and throwing brash colours and animations to catch the eye of the viewer, google manages to subtly commercialize the product.

‘Search’ has a got a new meaning because of this intangible product. ‘Google it’ or ‘did you google me?’ are the new words being used in communications rather than saying ‘search’. Search = google and google = search is being fitted in them minds of internet savvy.

Because of such popularity there is a rat race for dominating the market share for any particular word. Companies harness the importance of ensuring that their company is amongst the first ones to be seen when someone googles for it. The search for a particular commodity based on the word is an ugly fight for the companies offering it. Such has become the power of ‘the word’.

Currently google not only is left as a search engine but has entered into number of online sectors viz google products, blogs, books, videos, maps, gtalk and much more. Services like translate, reader, labs, alerts etc are real value addition for the quality information seeker. Google has indeed given a new meaning to the existence of web world.

With the android world ruling the mobile market, google has established itself in a different league altogether on a newer platform.