How Google Is Becoming an Extension of Your Mind

An anonymous reader writes "An article at CNET discusses Google's ever-expanding role in search, and where it's heading over the next several years. The author argues it's becoming less of a discrete tool and more an integrated extension of our own minds. He rattles off a list of pie-in-the-sky functions Google could perform, which would have sounded ridiculous a decade ago. But in 2012.. not so much. Quoting: 'Think of Google diagnosing your daughter's illness early based on where she's been, how alert she is, and her skin's temperature, then driving your car to school to bring her home while you're at work. Or Google translating an incomprehensible emergency announcement while you're riding a train in foreign country. Or Google steering your investment portfolio away from a Ponzi scheme. Google, in essence, becomes a part of you. Imagine Google playing a customized audio commentary based on what you look at while on a tourist trip and then sharing photo highlights with your friends as you go. Or Google taking over your car when it concludes based on your steering response time and blink rate that you're no longer fit to drive. Or your Google glasses automatically beaming audio and video to the police when you say a phrase that indicates you're being mugged.'"

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

[jgtg32a]

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/ [theatlantic.com]

Good article

Re:same as everything else

[OldSport]

I don't know about the car analogy, but generally you're right. A calculator is a math plug-in to augment our brain's inferior ability to do complex calculations quickly. A scheduling app on your computer that reminds you of appointments is like a memory extension. I'm a translator and I use terminology/translation memory software, which function in much the same way. ...Of course, at the rate Google Translate is going, it will soon be an extension of my unemployment.