Google is quickly becoming "The Company" which, as depicted by so many dystopian stories, is omnipresent in our society. I don't doubt their philanthropic goals, but it is getting a bit scary. They tirelessly catalogue public information on the web and in print, map and photograph our streets, store our personal emails, will provide the software for our phones, will supply wireless internet to our cities, and now they're moving toward providing power to our cities as well. They're gonna know everything about everything, and play a role in our society's most basic functions. I'd make the argument that absolute knowledge can corrupt just as well as absolute power. At some point their motto, "Don't be evil" is gonna start to sound like an omen.
In 2018, Matt sits down to take a quick dump. His GPS-enabled gPhone buzzes.
Text message: Using the restroom again, Matt? How about trying Google's new line of smart toilet paper? To order, reply "yes". It will automatically be charged to your Google Account.
Matt ignores the ad-- the tenth ad this morning -- and gets back to business.Text message: Are you ignoring us, Matt? Don't be evil, Matt. To order, reply "yes".
Matt knows what's coming next. He lights a candle seconds before his lights are shut off.Text message: Google Power Beta is experiencing a high usage volume at the moment. Power will be restored within a few hours .
Matt sighs. Most days he'd wait it out, but his brand new iPrius (run on Google software) is still charging from the wall socket in the garage. He needs at least enough juice get to work. He reaches for his gPhone and places the order for the smart toilet paper.Text message: Thank you for your order, Matt. Please allow one week for delivery.
The lights come back on immediately. Matt blows out his candle.
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