Privacy and new web technology, can we have both?

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With the drop of Google's browser, there has been discussion on whether this is Google's first step on its road to world domination, or just another large, well coded nail into the coffin of our online privacy.  Excuse me, since when did the release of a web browser mean so much?  Is this a throw back to the browser wars fought by Netscape and Microsoft (IE)?

Google have delivered a nice piece of software, which on beta release, is fast, compatible and has a bunch of neat features that integrate with our online lifestyle very well.  Plus, add in the fact that it is open source, and all those things that we miss from Firefox will probably be just around the corner.  As you can see, I quite like it, and when I can get a version for the Mac, I'll spending a lot more time with it.

I see Chrome as an important step in the online world.  Of all the software Google offers, Chrome is the glue, the gooey, sticky gum that will help everyone bond with the resources and products Google provides, and in turn, help Google to continue pushing the envelope and building better web technology (with less glue).

New and better web technology is something that we all want.  Even those against the whole "cloud computing" concept still crave the convenience and flexibility of using the online world to work and play.  At this time I would say that the whole concept is still in it technological infancy.

In the end, I don't think we can achieve the heights of useful technology we desire, and keep the privacy we want.  At some point we have to tell all the devices and systems we use information about ourselves, so that they can make our lives easier.  And for every step forward toward the Utopian computer and machine driven life, we will need to let someone know, so that the next couple of steps can be possible.

Guess what?  as humans, the more we communicate, the better we create.  The more we talk about our needs, the greater the chances are that solutions can be found.  With this fundamental fact, we are either looking at a Star Trek style future, or a future where we continue to use systems that are never exactly what we want or need.

So, can we have the technology we want and keep our privacy?   Nuh-uh!  We need to give up a measure of privacy and information to drive technology.  If we don't, we stay stagnant.  And thank you very much, but I like my water clear, even if everyone else can see I'm naked.

Jason Remnant

..if it's broken, why fix it?

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