Tagged : Google

in Media Culture

Google Voice and the Communication Landscape


The way we communicate with each other using devices is evolving at a rapid rate and Google’s new service Google Voice is a prime example. It is apparent now that Google is no longer content to be an information gateway through search. With an increased roster of web based application Google is transforming the ways in which we communicate, store, and share information.

The latest in the big G’s portfolio is Google Voice, which seemingly takes aim at Skype, and creates a voice communication system that acts as a single gateway for multiple types of messaging. If that doesn’t make complete sense, and you’re wondering to yourself “what is google voice?” than let me explain it in English.

Google Voice allows you to manage all of your communication from different mobile and land lines using one single account. You can check voicemail, receive voicemail notifications, send and receive text messages, and receive text transcripts of voicemails and listen to them through your voice account which works through your smart phone or your computer.

Many of us now have multiple email accounts, multiple phone numbers, a Skype account, etc, etc. Google voice is a step in the right direction for personal communication management. Unfortunately it is only available in the USA right now, so it will be a while before I can test the service. If only Google would hurry up and make a single passport account compatible with all websites so I could stop having to remember so many different login names and passwords.

in Media Culture

April Fools’ Day

My patience for April Fools’ Day is so short that I could barely read the Wikipedia entry past the part where I learned that it is actualy Fools’ Day not a singular Fool’s Day. It’s not that I don’t have a sense of humour, but this is the kind of day where things that normally would be totally not funny are found funny, or at least you are supposed to find them funny. It is just a bizarre cultural ritual that I don’t really get.

Thankfully I don’t work in an office anymore, so I don’t have to worry about coming in and finding all of my desk contents removed, or worse yet, having my chair strapped to the ceiling, or sitting in a soaking wet sponge of a chair, etc, etc., but I still don’t want to deal with it.

My solution? Sleep in ’til noon. This way you don’t have to deal with any of the B.S. Although this year I have to say that I admired Google’s name change to Topeka, and Philip Bloom’s Canon RAW video post. Those were kind of funny. I think from now on I will experience April Fool’s from the safety of my laptop and avoid any likely embarrassment.