Every day millions - if not billions - of people around the world use the Internet for work and play. More than likely, the typical Internet user comes across Google at least once in his journey around the World Wide Web.
Here at Ball State University, Google is quickly becoming a best friend to the thousands of us who are studying to move up the socio-economic ladder. It is a study buddy, dictionary, messenger and librarian. It has our e-mail, the news and even an interactive world map. Soon, it will have even more to offer.
In addition to being a pop-culture phenomenon on the level of Windows 95 and the early days of both Yahoo! and Amazon.com, Google is now moving into media that should create concern within our generation.
According to MediaPost Publications, Google made the announcement on Tuesday it is in the process of obtaining dMarc Broadcasting, "a provider of automated ad delivery platforms for radio stations." This comes on the heels of Google selling ad space in a Chicago newspaper and inventory in several magazines.
Google has maneuvered to become one of the largest mega-corporations in the world - rivaling Microsoft, Apple, Dell and IBM as one of the most recognizable names in technology. Even Microsoft has been unable to beat down the popularity and stardom of the Google behemoth with the new technology powering its MSN Web search.
However, Google is moving out of its realm of technology and further into the vast world of journalism and telecommunications.
Google Print even offers search and view of entire literary works online, which is complicating and blurring the copyright laws for the authors of the works - causing some controversy in the publishing world.
Much like Microsoft and Anakin Skywalker, Google is being tempted by the "Dark Side, " but for Google, the "Dark Side" is greed and monopolization.
How much longer until Yahoo! is purchased by Google? Or until Google launches its own television station? How much longer until Google creates its own operating system to rival Windows?
The sky is the limit with Google, but the sky is not always blue: Sometimes it is black and full of lightning and destruction. But the American public would rather have a great blue sky than the storm-ridden grey sky American capitalism has often seen this decade.
While we should embrace the competition Google might create for tech companies here in America and the rest of the world, there should be a greater limit on the monopolization Google is exploring. The company has the ability to set the rules and standards for the Web, and perhaps soon for radio, print and television. But how much power will we allow Google to have?
Google has no doubt provided a great service to current and prospective Ball State students with the improved search engine on the university's Web site.
However, some people should note that while Google might be the next great tech company, it could be harmful to the American public and to capitalism.
While we should continue to monitor the current and future power of Google, we as college students still benefit from using the services Google provides - because they are the best. So, after you finish reading the paper, go check your G-Mail, search the web with Google Search, edit your pictures with Google-created Picasa software, then find the Eiffel Tower with Google Earth - but watch out for those Google logos creeping into your newspapers, television broadcasts and other media.
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