I have been a huge Google fan. The story of how a research paper led to a life altering phenomenon is fascinating. Their gradual integration of email, photos, music not seeming to be as monopolising as Apple, delighted me to no end. I was so impressed that I went ahead and bought a Pixel, a decision I haven't regretted till date. There were a few things that did bother me. Like how Google remembered my search histories and displayed ads based on that, or how the gmail app suggests reply formats based upon the content of the email. Though a bit scary; I ignored it, convinced it's not hurting anyone and that their privacy policies & security protocols are fool-proof.
But then an ad for Google Maps on Indian television has set me thinking. Is Google trying to change the way we live? Changing our very own culture? Sure it suggests the fastest routes, and it lets you know where there is heavy trafic and how to avoid it. But is there something more sinister going on? The intrusiveness of Google has now gone too far.
Let me explain. The recent series of ads promoting Google Maps, says "Let 5 minutes be 5 minutes". Implying that people should now be able exactly predict when they will be reaching a place and should abide by it. Now that goes against my culture. When did "Paanch minute mein pahunchtha hu" mean anything? We follow IST - Indian Stretchable Time. If there is one thing that we Indians stand united on - it is our puncutality. When we say 5 minutes it means anything but that - it can be 30 minutes, one hour, next day, next week, next month and in some cases next year. I am sure the reason Mughals and Britishers were successful in invading us was because of our puncutality. Because someone somewhere promised to deliver in 5 minutes and as usual that didnt happen.
I remember from my days in the US. A colleague invited us for the first birthday celebrations of his son. The time mentioned was 6pm, followed by dinner. Around 6:15pm, I was getting ready when I got a frantic call from another colleague confirming the venue. Apparently, she was there and no one was in sight, not even the host!!! Needless to say the host was Indian and the frantic call was from an American colleague. The poor lady thought she would be free by 7:30pm and had planned her evening accordingly. I had to gently break the news that no one is expected before 7:30pm.
Now, Google Maps is asking me to unlearn everything I know. That's not fair.....
But then an ad for Google Maps on Indian television has set me thinking. Is Google trying to change the way we live? Changing our very own culture? Sure it suggests the fastest routes, and it lets you know where there is heavy trafic and how to avoid it. But is there something more sinister going on? The intrusiveness of Google has now gone too far.
Let me explain. The recent series of ads promoting Google Maps, says "Let 5 minutes be 5 minutes". Implying that people should now be able exactly predict when they will be reaching a place and should abide by it. Now that goes against my culture. When did "Paanch minute mein pahunchtha hu" mean anything? We follow IST - Indian Stretchable Time. If there is one thing that we Indians stand united on - it is our puncutality. When we say 5 minutes it means anything but that - it can be 30 minutes, one hour, next day, next week, next month and in some cases next year. I am sure the reason Mughals and Britishers were successful in invading us was because of our puncutality. Because someone somewhere promised to deliver in 5 minutes and as usual that didnt happen.
I remember from my days in the US. A colleague invited us for the first birthday celebrations of his son. The time mentioned was 6pm, followed by dinner. Around 6:15pm, I was getting ready when I got a frantic call from another colleague confirming the venue. Apparently, she was there and no one was in sight, not even the host!!! Needless to say the host was Indian and the frantic call was from an American colleague. The poor lady thought she would be free by 7:30pm and had planned her evening accordingly. I had to gently break the news that no one is expected before 7:30pm.
Now, Google Maps is asking me to unlearn everything I know. That's not fair.....
