Every so often you run into an application that makes you stop and go “wow.” (The “wow” is typically followed by a long pause for effect.) Google SMS is one of those applications.
Three things all came together for me:
- It often feels like we are so close to having access to the internet everywhere and we got a step closer with the networks the cell providers are supporting. (That being said my blackberry browser is still hard to use even with something as simple as Google search.)
- Google is getting closer and closer to being able to answer direct questions.
- I started using SMS with my sister. To be honest mostly so we could make fun of my parents while we were on the phone with them but it was also nice to be able to swap messages with her without calling (she doesn’t have a blackberry).
And then, along came Google SMS
The best way to explain how it works is with examples.
I was getting ready for a mock negotiation in class and realized I had forgotten to look up the term COLA before I left for class. Shoot! I’m stuck. But wait, Google SMS to the rescue! Here is the SMS transcript:
May 14, 2005 8:34.45AM, TO: GOOGLE SMS
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define COLA
May 14, 2005 8:34.55AM, REPLY
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Glossary:
* Cola: Cost-of-living adjustment.
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov/glossary.html
Or my wife and I wanted to see a movie but we were away from the internet:
May 14, 2005 4:20.41PM, TO: GOOGLE SMS
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Parrots of telegraph hill, 94040
May 14, 2005 4:20.48PM, REPLY
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Movies:
* Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
1hr 23min,G,Documentary,3.9/5
5:00, 7:00, 10:00
Aquarius
...
You can get driving directions, yellow page listings, look up prices on Froogle, check weather…you get the idea. I can’t even tell you how many arguments with Josh I could have settled in 10 seconds instead of hours. Think of the embarrassment of arguing vehemently just to be proved wrong when we were next connected that Josh could have avoided.
Here is a special one for Nate:
May 21, 2005 4:20.41AM, TO: GOOGLE SMS
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How long does it take a submarine to cross the Atlantic?
May 21, 2005 4:20.48AM, REPLY
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4 hours
The Google SMS number is 46645. Enjoy.
I am definitely going to have to play with this–it sounds too good to be true. Once we don’t have anything to argue about for hours what we will we do to fill the time? I am starting to get pretty good at Scrabble and Boggle…maybe that is the answer.
Hmmm,
Distance from New York to London - 3471 Miles (5585 km), to do that in 4 hours you woudl have to travel 867 miles an hour. I am guessing that subs, since they go their fastest when above water. The fastest Russian sub can go 74 km/h so it woudl take that sub 75 hours. The concorde can do it in 2:50.
Now either you are playing a trick or Nate is answering Google SMS requests. 4 hours indeed!
Josh, do you really think the Russians are going to tell you how fast their fastest subs will go? No way my friend. They clearly won’t tell you about their recent advances in supersonic subs. Only someone with my kind of super secret contacts in the intel world can find that out… or, clearly, if you’re Google. I say “thanks for redeeming me, Google!”
It’s because of the standing air bubble that they create in front of the sub so that it can travel through the water with zero resistance! I can’t write much more about this because of stupid carnivore feeding all of my posts over to Eschalon. I’m sick of getting harassed by the man. Stick to your guns, Nate. Technology will prove you right sooner or later!
All right. I admit it. I made up the last one. The answer I get from Google answers is actually “I’m sorry, how fast does a sub travel does not return any answers.”
Chris brings up a terrifying point — what the heck will we do? If we play scrabble it won’t be long before my self esteem is shot. Unless, given my handicap, I get to play with a dictionary.
I asked Google answers “what should I do now that Google has all the answers?” As has been true with all disruptive technology, it didn’t know.
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