Spa Tek

Predictions

The Pope has a new book this morning, the result of his talks with noted thinkers, in which he makes comments about the future of humanity.

It's not easy to foresee the future, as we are always unaware of the new developments that will make us all change direction. This Internet is one fantastic example. Virtual democracy, that neither governments nor mulinational companies are able to effectively gag.

That could change, as more and more is known about us all, as individuals, as computers have very good memories and a chance remark or misdeed made today may haunt us years later. Not that I'll withdraw any of my remarks about our toy poodle, Tony Blair, or most of his sycophants.

I will suggest that Google will replace Microsoft within a few years. All organisations (and regimes Mr Bush) have a shelf-life. They blossom and then decay, and from the ashes new shoots will appear. Google is one such, and is very well poised to exercise greater control over all our daily activities.

Google's game plan is more attractive than Microsoft, who baked one cake and have sold it millions of times over for far too long. Many of their products should now be free giveaways, but that is not a decision I can influence.

Google is steadily getting into bed with very useful partners, and is generating good income. Yet most Google users do not feel any pain. That's a good business model, and if Google grow closer to the free development world and present Linux that all of us can use, and then join with Sun and its emerging OpenSource office tools then the future will look very bright.

For a time we shall all rejoice, until the entrepreneurs make way for the accountants and share traders. Then the emphasis will change, and direct exploitation return.

Watch Google like a hawk. Tell me when it starts to swoop.

posted by Suffolk Notes @ 10:24 am