Google First, Then Ask Questions

Every person who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make life full, significant, and interesting. (Aldous Huxley)

We are part of a world with more data at our fingertips than ever before. Our computers, smart phones, and iPads hold answers to an unlimited array of questions. There's no need for encyclopedias, National Geographic or newspapers. TVs, CD players and radio broadcast have been rendered useless by Hulu, Pandora and podcasts.

In a day and age when business conversations are over gTalk and romances blossom online, we are all seconds away from replacing our doctors, travel agents, stock brokers and movie critics. We are a society that's dialed in to information of all kinds, we are friends with Ashton and share our caloric intake with the world.

I witnessed an interesting thing the other night while was at a bar playing a game of trivia with my coworkers. A tricky question was asked—What flower does vanilla extract come from?—and without blinking, one of my teammates said, "I don't know, let's Google it!!"

Quick internet searches have become an extension of our natural thought processes. Random facts that once lived in our minds are now stored as bits of data in the the cloud.

I see Google as an unlimited access phone a friend. When my brain goes blank and I can't remember an awesome site or inspirational quote, I type a stream of conscious batch of words and Google reveals the answer. In my eyes, this is an efficient use of time and resources. There is no need to bother someone else  if Google's got it covered.

brilliant image credit: via dullhunk