Not content with covering just the earth, search engine giant Google has launched a specially created site for Star Trek fans, the company announced yesterday.
The launch is in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Star Trek convention, to be hosted later this year in Las Vegas by Creation Entertainment, where Google will be joining more than 15,000 fans from around the world.
"Wherever and whenever science fiction fans gather, an appreciation of technology – and alien visitations – can't be far behind," the company said in a press release. "While in Las Vegas to help celebrate Star Trek's 40th anniversary, the Google booth will showcase these science fiction scenes and structures, created by users, highlighting intergalactic life."
Google took the opportunity to announce it has also developed mobile KML (keyhole markup language), a device which will allow developers to display destinations on Google Earth and Google Maps on cell phones.
"Throughout deep space, fans will be able to view alien outposts on Earth directly from their handheld devices. For those who prefer to stay on planet Earth, or end up in Las Vegas, mobile KML offers mobile phone users a bird's-eye view of the 24-hour playground," the company added.
While on the way to Vegas, Star Trek fans may be able to get discount hamburgers, too, now. The announcements come in the same week Google unveiled its latest corporate gimmick: printable coupons from the Google Maps service, which can be redeemed at participating businesses across the country.
However, weary travellers will have to be careful about the way they phrase their language. Google has issued a statement discouraging people from using the phrase “to google”, which infringes its key asset – its brand name. Instead, the company prefers people use its name as a proper noun, by saying “I used Google to search for Star Trek,” for example.
Article comments
1 - ThaiTai
I google! I Google! i google! Ok? I love to google. I can google anything and find it. Nya! Nya! Nya! How are you going to stop me googling, Google?
2 - PoizonMyst
Interesting ... are Goggle planning to have the verb "Google" removed from the Oxford and Webster dictionaries? It's a bit late to get pedantic over how people use their brand name now. Sheesh ... and I thought the Google company were a bit more hip about things like that.
3 - Bryan
"I used Google to search for {search term}" makes Google a proper noun. It becomes a tool, like any other app, and becomes indistinguishable from any other search engine.
"I googled {search term}" makes "google" an active verb. Google is something you do; it's a lifestyle. It becomes part of the lexicon and becomes something different than using, say, Yahoo! search or AltaVista.
That's a silly move on their part, and it just distances Google from their users and the Internet community who have embraced the verb. Not like anyone's actually going to stop using it, but they should take it as a compliment that it's become such a common phrase. Obviously their branding has been successful.