SEO Forum Watch

What tricks will Google pull out of its magic hat next? According to a recent discussion on Webmasterworld, we might soon be seeing Google expand into the realms of video, television, and social networking in ways that have been previously untouched by search engines.

A U.S. patent application announced by Webmasterworld user “trillianjedi” on June 7th indicates that Google may be trying to close the gap between mass media channels (such as television and broadcasting) and the search industry. After reading the patent, it would appear that Google wants to use search technology to make the interactive television experience… well… more interactive.

In order to experience what the patent refers to as “contemporary interactive television”, viewers often have to pay large monthly fees and purchase additional equipment. Furthermore, there is no easy way for viewers to communicate with each other in real time.

It would appear, with the rise of social networking sites such as Friendster, Facebook, and MySpace, that Google is considering new ways to hop on the social networking bandwagon by merging it with the passive user experience of watching television. Currently, in order to find and participate in a discussion related to a favorite television show, for instance, a viewer must use a search engine to search for the title of the show or a related keyword, and then scroll through the search engine results pages until they find a site that matches their interests. If that’s not complicated enough, they would then most likely have to create an account with a particular social networking site and log in before they would be able to participate in site discussions. Even then, as most forum users are aware, the discussions are usually not “live” and forum replies can take days or even weeks.

While some people are eagerly anticipating what Google has in store, several Webmasterworld members reacted with cynicism and even concern. For instance, beta users of Joost couldn’t help but notice some striking similarities between the Google patent and what Joost is attempting to do with their advertisements. Both companies feature several colors of the rainbow on their websites and in their advertising campaigns. Both companies are trying to find new ways of presenting interactive television. Competition, anyone?

Google will not only be going up against the hype of Joost, but also the long-standing techniques of television companies such as G4TV and MTV, both of which play snippets of related chatroom conversations during popular television shows.

Webmasterworld member “lexipixel” made a valid point by stating:

“I think a lot of technologists miss the point of [television]. Like computers, the human brain can not truly multi-task — it can simulate it well (pat your head, rub your belly…) but time slicing and multi-tasking are two different things. In front of a [television], you are free to think about and process the information being presented. … In these ‘totally connected’ days, I think we look to TV as a relaxation period for the mind…”

Stopping to think about my own television-viewing experiences, I realized that much of what “lexipixel” said does apply to me. When I watch television, I like to become involved in the simple experience of just watching and comprehending what is happening on the screen in front of me. I don’t like for too much to be going on, whether it is outside influence from my own environment or even the brief interruption of commercial advertisements. I don’t have the best attention span sometimes, and I’ll admit that I even get distracted if the channel logo changes in the bottom right corner of the screen. (And don’t get me started on those Showtime ads that pop up during my favorite shows and random moments…)

Do I see television as we know it completely changing or even becoming lost to the visions Google might (or might not) have for the mass media? Not likely. Television might change. The broadcasting world might evolve. But I doubt it will ever become an ad-congested viewing nightmare. After all, there is one thing that mass media relies on more than its advertisements: you and I, the viewers.