When I was a kid “Look it up” was a common response to a student’s question in class – especially in relation to how to spell a tricky word. It’s obvious that a lot has changed since I was a little girl. The Internet has woven itself into our lives and evolved into an amazing vault of accurate (and sometimes inaccurate) information.
When I started teaching college students in 2007, the word “Google” officially transformed from a noun to a verb. If the students had a question, I caught myself saying “Google it” (as in, visit www.Google.com). Yes, the site even helps me find the spellings of tricky words.
As technology continues to evolve, so do the services it provides. Take for example a service provided by Google Maps called “Street View”. If you Google your address, including the city and state, you might not only see a map dot of your location, but you will likely see the street view as well. (This is more common in towns and cities than rural properties). That means Google has used a satellite to locate your home’s exact position and then physically snapped a color photo of the front of your house.
Seriously.
Stories of Street View include photos of properties taken while a roofing project was in progress, or while people were mowing their lawns. The last photo of our home was taken sometime before we moved in, so it’s not that current. When I Google my address, I see the front of our home with a ‘for sale’ sign in the yard and the neighbors’ house before they updated their siding.
Last week Fargo buzzed about the “Google Street Car” roaming through the city, taking updated photos of streets and houses. Media outlets begged their loyal followers to let them know if they spotted the crazy looking car.
I had forgotten all about it until I rounded a corner in our neighborhood and ended up stopping right behind the sought after vehicle. The driver – I like to call him “Google Man” – was taking notes on a property when I approached. There was no mistaking his mission.
The bright white Subaru had California license plates, green driver and passenger side doors; red side mirrors that occasionally blinked, and a tri-pod mounted to the roof. Topping off the crazy looking car was a large round camera colored bright red.
A street car named Google.
As I pulled into my driveway a few houses down from Google Man, I removed a large garbage can from my backseat, which I had sitting on plastic. All of the grass that I had just dumped out of it had gotten wet and smelly, and I wasn’t able to completely empty it. I spilled all of that grass juice and soggy leftover clippings all over my clean clothes, brand new flip-flops and the driveway. Not only that, but during my once-in-three-years photo opportunity, the garage door sat wide open, the lawn needed to be mowed, and the petunias on our front step died that morning. How embarrassing.
I realize everything is available on Google if you just “Google it,” including the good, the bad, and the ugly smelling grass clippings.
Ugh. I wonder if I can request to use the old photo.