Google+
By Fellows and Associates’ independent correspondent Oliver Cox.
Google+ (G+), Google’s latest social networking project
has, since this year’s June 28th launch, produced a constant and tempting
murmur of publicity. Google has created a hybrid form of publicity, where it
brands its product, but has the users distribute the message. Then it offers
the product only by invitation, to boost demand. Clever!
I’ve just activated my G+ account and now have full
access to its standard, and novel, features. On my Google search webpage,
‘Oliver+’ is visible next to ‘Web’ -“ a graphic representation of the chimera of
social network and search content which Google has created.
Circles -“ G+ is distinguished from other networks by the
Circles feature, allowing users to categorise their contacts into different
social groupings.
Stream -“ This feature allows users to post text, a
picture, video, link or their location; visible to the selected circle(s),
similar, though more extensive, than a tweet or status update.
Hangouts -“ Following a quick download and installation,
and by adding circles, users can communicate via audio, video and text, and
YouTube videos. For free.
Sparks -“ A feature in which Google selects external
webpages on certain topics and links them into G+, users can select popular
sparks or use perform a search, then share what they find.
At some point during the next few months, I imagine that
G+ will fall either side of a watershed: on one side, into obscurity or use by
enthusiasts only; on the other, into a position which may alter the way in
which people utilise the internet.
Businesses already use social networks to communicate
with customers, other businesses and within their own structure. G+ is a more
serious product for these uses: the instant chat is truly instant; Hangouts
provide conferencing facilities across huge distances for up to ten people. The
social networking tools which businesses utilise, like a Twitter feed, are all
available from G+, often in a more precise (thanks to Circles) and logical
manner. G+ could make business faster, more multinational, and when, as Google
promise, they incorporate Google business into G+, it will mean that still more
business will be done online.
G+ is the tool for E-Leaning and its more cutting-edge
partner, Social Learning. Hangouts enables students to connect with their tutor
over a distance with a communication system which very nearly removes the need
for physical presence. Social Leaning involves students researching topics,
exchanging information, commenting on documents and discussing information via
social networks -“ entirely possible without leaving G+. E-Learning, with the
worldwide educational changes which it is forging, has made its capacity clear.
E-learning means that education has the potential to be genuinely available to
all people; with the expansion of internet worldwide and tools like G+, I
expect a new epoch.
Sparks are potentially the most important aspect of the
website; the tool gives users all the up-to-date and relevant content they
could imagine, effortlessly. Although some critics describe this feature as
unoriginal and lacking in depth, its placement and accessibility (Google’s
popularity and branding) make it potent. The ease which Sparks will bring to
business research is clear, though if it becomes popular, businesses may not
only have to design their website to be found by Google search, but also to be
selected as a G+ spark.
This handover of information to the people, with rumours
that sparks may be ranked by how many ‘+1’ popularity votes they receive, is
partnered with an acquisition of influence by Google. Not only will the company
know exactly what people are searching and reading, it will be able to choose
what we read and access, because ultimately it is Google who selects sparks.
This is the more interesting of the two sides of the watershed, because it
represents the simultaneous democratisation and monopolisation of internet
content.
With business profiles to be rolled out in a few months,
G+ has the ability to affect the online and offline worlds decidedly. However,
whether G+ will join its sibling, the real-time, translatable, open-source
GoogleWave; and its cousin GoogleBuzz; the micro-blogging and communications
haze with a passion for privacy concerns, in the web 2.0 graveyard, will lie
with the all-powerful users.
This article reflects the author’s opinions only. You can contact our news team via email at
[email protected].