I love the Google. I know there is great consternation about the amount of personal information that the company gathers and potential threats to personal privacy, but I don’t care anymore. Take everything I’ve got, Google Gods. It’s worth it.
Case in point:
Yesterday, my buddy and I were on the way to the Microsoft NERD Center in Boston for a conference on social media. We had no address for the location, but I simply entered NERD Center into my Google Maps app on my phone and received instant, turn-by-turn directions to the location.
Regaling the powers of the Google, I wondered what else it could do. On Sunday, we would be leaving Boston and heading south to Foxboro for the Patriots game. I knew that I could enter Gillette Stadium into the Google and get directions, but I wondered what other search terms might bring me there.
Instead of Gillette Stadium, I entered Sullivan Stadium, the original name of the former stadium from the 1970s.
Google gave me directions to Gillette Stadium.
Then I entered Tom Brady, the name of the Patriots quarterback..
Google gave me directions to Gillette Stadium.
Then I entered Randy Moss, the name of a Patriots wide receiver.
Google gave me directions to Gillette Stadium.
Then I entered Jerod Mayo, the name of a Patriots linebacker.
Google gave me directions to Gillette Stadium.
On a whim, I entered my name into Google Maps.
Google gave me directions to the NERD Center in Boston. I was registered online as an attendee of the conference.
Google knew where I was going to be on the day in question and provided directions to me.
Astounding. And yes, a little frightening, too.
