25 September 2008
Google manage to do no evil, even whilst “stealing” ideas
Welcome to 10 over 100, an honest effort started by 2 guys who want to make the world a better, more giving place. How do we plan to do it? Watch this!
Sound familiar? You might have read something like this on the Official Google blog on Wednesday when Google announced ‘Project 10^100′ (that’s “ten to the hundredth”). However its actually from a site set up by two guys back in 2005, 10over100.org, which has a suspiciously similar name and aim as Google’s project.
So what’s going on? Is this Google’s project or have they borrowed it from someone else? Find out after the break!
Project 10^100 is a “a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible.” Google is encouraging people to send in their ideas to this end, and will then select 100 ideas for a shortlist. These will be voted on by the community, and from the top 20 a panel will select 5 winners. Using $10m that Google has set aside for this project these ideas will be turned into reality and will hopefully help lots of people.
Google’s intention and altruism is not in question. Neither am I querying how valuable this project will be. I’m convinced it will be very worthwhile.
However I am wondering where Google got the name from. Google says,
10100 is another way of expressing the number “googol,” a one followed by one hundred zeroes. Our company’s very name expresses our goal of achieving great results through smart technology that starts small and scales dramatically over time to have a tremendous long-term impact. Project 10100 is a similar attempt to produce those kinds of scalable results by harnessing our users’ insights and creativity. We don’t know what ideas would help the most people. This project’s premise is that maybe you do.
Good explanation, but is it coincidence that 10over100.org has a similar name and altruistic aim?
Welcome to 10 over 100, an honest effort started by 2 guys who want to make the world a better, more giving place. How do we plan to do it? Watch this! We, James Hong and Josh Blumenstock, hereby make a personal promise to you that we will give 10% of whatever we make over $100,000 each year to charity.
Sure its not the same method, but certainly a similar aim. And 10over100.org was founded at the earliest in 2005, way before Project 10^100 came to light. Both the San Franscisco Chronicle and New York Times carry articles from 2006 and 2005 promoting the idea.
So is Project 10^100 original? What do you think?
6 Comments currently posted.
aswl says:
Rajja says:
Hi Friends..
Google is celebrating its 10th birthday.
So planed to sponsor $10 million for best 5 ideas.
These are my ideas, submitted to Google. Please visit YouTube, give some good comment and rate it…
You can login to YouTube using your Google accout..
Thank You ;)… Please recommend to your friends also.
Video is very fast.. b’coz 30 min is allowed. So please use pause button to read all..
Virtual World - Project10tothe100 - Idea (project 10 to the 100)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb7wXDr9QIw
And
PressMeet - Project10tothe100 - Idea (Project 10 to the 100)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipfkpElF2OY
Mgulk says:
RE : Google Project 10^100 VOTING by March 17th, 2009 (Tuesday) !!!
_____________________________________________________________
!!! Please Support the IDEA ; to Help Millions in Need; by JUST ONE CLICK at Google’s website : ” http://www.project10tothe100.com ” .
IDEA : “Affordable Wheelchair with Future Energy - Gravity Propulsion”
Concerns : Multiple (Health, Energy, Environment, Community, Opportunity)
Idea web site : ” http://sites.google.com/site/energravity ”
Thank you very much.
Regards,
MGulk
Sam says:
The joke is on Google because although I submitted an idea to them I suspected they were going to steal everybody’s ideas just like they have. I didn’t give them my BEST ideas. Don’t trust Google. They’ve shown their hand.
Henry says:
Instead of allowing Google to monopolize on the hidden ideas they have collected we need to open up websites that invite people who gave Google ideas to reproduce their ideas on those websites.
ed hardy t shirts says:
i believe you are a good writer, but have you erver thought to write some special artcals for peopel who likes shopping very much.
please think very carefully before handing over your great idea
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/09/googles_charity.html#community