Comments on: Synthesizing NYSCATE #2 – Is Google Big Brother?

By: Resistance IS Futile! « point a to point b

Resistance IS Futile! « point a to point b — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:41:26 +0000

[...] IS Futile! A little over two years ago I wrote a post titled, Is Google Big Brother, right after attending the NYS educational technology conference, NYSCATE. Basically I was [...]

By: Staff Development Focus for Next Year « point a to point b

Staff Development Focus for Next Year « point a to point b — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:53:03 +0000

[...] While a little voice in my head continues to worry about Google controlling too much (see my kind-of-paranoid post from 2007), you can’t argue that there are some amazing resources (see my posts after attending a BOCES [...]

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:58:04 +0000

And here is a new opportunity from Google for pre-college students who are at least age 13 to get involved in open source software:

http://code.google.com/opensource/ghop/2007-8/

Looks like a very worthwhile endeavor to promote tech-saavy students.

By: Jeff Gentner

Jeff Gentner — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:04:15 +0000

We CANNOT Ignore it much longer – the POWER of Google! Take a look at these two recent news articles about the growth of GOOGLE. Very interesting (and exciting, I think).

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.pl.cheappc29nov29,0,161094.story

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2744795720071127

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:13:03 +0000

Well put, Jeff. I agree that I’m living more and more online, and I’m sure that much of my information is out there somewhere. If someone wants to get a profile of me, there is 2 years of writing on this blog alone, so I’m certainly not hiding. Even though I consider myself a “techie,” maybe I’m more old school than I ralized in terms of placing information online, and everything I put out I have done purposely. I think I need to have my thinking catch up with my actions!

By: Jeff Gentner

Jeff Gentner — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:01:15 +0000

As you know, I have been “Getting Googley” for over 6 years now teaching teachers and students the “power of Google” at the school district level and at state conferences. I have given a Google Search presentation to 75 Income Tax Practitioners who didn’t even know what Google was!

In May 2004, I was one of the first people I know who was “invited” to use gmail – probably since I had been bothering the GooglePlex with all sorts of questions about using Google in Education to prepare my inservice presentations. I can tell you that Google continues to amaze me. At this year’s NYSCATE (2007), I was introduced to several new Google technologies that I didn’t even know existed, including Google Page Creator and Google Custom Search. The list of Google offerings continues to grow – almost daily.

Of course, what attracted me most to this blog was the concept of “Big Brother”. I don’t know about you, but much of my life is online. I hope to never speak to another bank teller, I do almost ALL of my banking business online. I chat (Google talk) with both of the own children just about every day. I shop online, visit EBay, Craigslist, Amazon, iTunes, assorted Travel sites and event ticket outlets online. Professionally, I am always searching for information and tools to make learning/living easier and more accessible for me and my students. My “personal” information is out there – everywhere – and I do not take it lightly. But, it doesn’t really scare me, either. I guess my question is – what information are we worried about being out there that most likely is not already there – somewhere? Do I trust Google? I guess I find myself asking – what information have I put out there that I am worried about? Maybe I am being naive, but as I have made my own “web” out there, I like the idea of having as much as I can in one place and for me, Google looks better and better every time have the opportunity to learn more about it!

Also, as far as the Gary Stager quote (see original comment) “if everyone thinks something is good…”, there are MANY who do NOT like or use Google – not exactly sure why, but maybe someone will add to this blog and shed some light.

For me – Google’s Got It!