mystery google barge

[Professor Buzzkill]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24819850

I saw a Daily Show episode this week about the mysterious "google" barge in San Francisco. There appears to be a high level of secrecy surrounding this project. Not even the local officials know what it is for.

Any insights?

The thing that gets me is that another one of these barges has been spotted in Maine, also linked to google, but google doesn't want to rave about there latest innovation.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Professor Buzzkill

[RaptorBites]

Google always held projects like this clouded in "secrecy".

As an employee, this is nothing new. As some of my coworkers assume, its a green liquid cooled data center. What better way to get access to water to cool datat centers then right on top of the water itself. Heck, if it works for nuclear power plants then it will work for this application.

My employers are always trying to push the edge of technological advancements and conservation.

Edited November 6, 2013 by RaptorBites

[Simbi Laveau]

I know this. I forget the details.

A few years ago, Google applied for a patent on a floating information Center.

Let me find the details.

Yeah, 2006, Google applied for a patent on a floating data center.

Floating can only be on airr or water so.

The coast guard is gag ordered to not discuss it.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Simbi Laveau

[Space Commander Travis]

It's probably a floating prison for anyone who dares to challenge Google's global hegemony.

[pallidin]

How long is this "gag order" in effect ? Anyone know ?

[RaptorBites]

Since the barge is on the water, Google has to allow USCG inspection. The reason for the gag order or nondisclosure agreement between Google and USCG is simple.

Why would Google want it's competitors to have knowledge of their project because of some USCG seaman that wanted to open his/her mouth?

[pallidin]

Since the barge is on the water, Google has to allow USCG inspection. The reason for the gag order or nondisclosure agreement between Google and USCG is simple.

Why would Google want it's competitors to have knowledge of their project because of some USCG seaman that wanted to open his/her mouth?

I can understand what you're saying. Just curious as to how long the "gag order" is to remain in effect. Certainly not permanently.

Perhaps it's until construction completion and whatever initial Google employee occupation.

[RaptorBites]

I can understand what you're saying. Just curious as to how long the "gag order" is to remain in effect. Certainly not permanently.

Perhaps it's until construction completion and whatever initial Google employee occupation.

That is a good assumption. It is also a good assumption to presume that the details will be released at the next Google I/O.

[Still Waters]

Google has issued a statement (finally?) about its months' - long mystery barge project. The barges, which are anchored in both Portland, Maine and San Francisco, have been the topic of intense interest since multiple reports surfaced last month.

A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that the barges are 'an interactive space' to teach people about its technology

http://techcrunch.co...its-technology/

More pics here-

http://www.dailymail...technology.html

Edited November 6, 2013 by Still Waters
Added an extra source link

[Rafterman]

This is neither a conspiracy nor a secret society.

[Likely Guy]

This is neither a conspiracy nor a secret society.

I agree. Relegate this thread to the science & technology forum. It has no place here.

[Skep B]

I kinda assumed they were going really far to get street level imaging of the oceans

[Professor Buzzkill]

This is neither a conspiracy nor a secret society.

I was going to post it in the US section, but its obvious that hundreds if not thousands of people know what it is, yet not a single person said anything.

What tipped the balance was some quotes from the above article like local authorities stating "When they decide to let us know what they plan to do with it, or hope to do with it, then we can decide if it's allowable,"

Edited November 7, 2013 by Professor Buzzkill

[Rafterman]

I was going to post it in the US section, but its obvious that hundreds if not thousands of people know what it is, yet not a single person said anything.

What tipped the balance was some quotes from the above article like local authorities stating "When they decide to let us know what they plan to do with it, or hope to do with it, then we can decide if it's allowable,"

That's still not a conspiracy.

[Professor Buzzkill]

That's still not a conspiracy.

Not yet. Lets see if they allow visitors in as stated in Stillwaters link. And also if they make it out again...

[Space Commander Travis]

This is neither a conspiracy nor a secret society.

I think Googol is both of those, to be quite honest.

[Likely Guy]

I think Googol is both of those, to be quite honest.

Really?... No, you're not. You almost had me there!

[Space Commander Travis]

Really?... No, you're not. You almost had me there!

really? Well, it's not a private corporation, is it, not when it's bigger than most governments and has such complete dominance of the inter Net. Surely you can't argue that the normal "rules" that are supposed to ensure competition and freedom of choice and all those things that we're always told are all the benefits of the Capitalist economy apply to the mighty Google corporaiton.

[Skep B]

they got to where they are because of capitalism.

More or less they've just won that particular game.

[Rlyeh]

It's where Google keeps all the good porn.

[Babe Ruth]

It's where Google keeps all the good porn.

Is that what Don Jon said? It was a great movie, but the guy had some hangups, for sure.

I'm all for capitalism, as long as it doesn't tell government how to govern. Which we seem to be way past by now. We seem to have capitalism on steroids, like fascism.

Will Google be able to stand up to government? Are there any brave men in Google? Brave, as in Edward Snowden.

Time will tell.

[Space Commander Travis]

Will Google be able to stand up to the government? Why would they need to when they're even more powerful and just as incompetent, but they don't need to worry about things like conning people into voting for them, since they have such a monopoly that people have to use their products and services, shoddy as they are? Surely the question should be can Government have any control over the mighty Google corporation?

[Space Commander Travis]

I mean, look at the utter mess they've made since they "Improved" the comments on YouTuBE. Now you can't reply to comments, the comments are all over the place and in no kind of order, if you try to click on "in reply to..." to see the comment that someone is replying to it opens the video again in a new tab!!, and it's cluttered up with pointless stuff about "Someone or other +1'd this on google+" or whatever the hell it is. Did they consult anyone as to whether they wanted it to be "Improved", or did the idiots in charge just decide to show off how clever they were by messing everyone about? And surely youTube, and by extension the mighty google corporation as a whole, must be one of the very few organisations with no customer service department at all; they have a "send feedback" thing right at the bottom, but they specifically say "Sorry, we can't reply to feedback individually, but your feedback helps us improve our services!!!! ".