Loon Advances. Search Grounded.
June 29, 2015
I read “Google Talks Project Loon: 14 Different Prototypes, Leaks Solved by Using Fluffy Socks.” Loon is one of Google’s research projects. From what I can figure out, Google wants to provide Internet access to everyone, yep, categorical affirmative. Facebook has this idea too. The write up reports:
During Google I/O, he [Google wizard Astro Teller] said “We knew we had a lot to learn, but we misestimated how much we had to learn.” For example, the balloons are so large, they have to be stood on by engineers, and tests were carried out to see which socks caused fewer leaks. Fluffy ones, apparently, worked best. The research and perseverance has paid off. Project Loon’s balloons now stay in the air for six months, then steered around the world and positioned to within 500 yards of the intended target area. That’s way beyond the 100-day minimum flight time estimates, that Google says will make Project Loon a viable solution to provide Internet to the billions of people who cannot get it using traditional means.
One question: Will ads persist as long as a balloon remains aloft? Nah, longer. Search remains on the ground, with feet of clay.
Stephen E Arnold, June 29, 2015
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