The Dilemma of Defining Google - Google Book Search
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Google Book Search
Formerly known as Google Print, Google Book Search is a really useful tool that allows users to search for specific keywords in Google’s huge digital database. The search engine goes through the full text of the indexed books and then, similar to a de facto search engine, it reports the results. Then you pick the book of your choice.
The most important feature is that Google limits the number of viewable pages as well as prevents the user from downloading and/or printing copyrighted material. Additional watermarks are also added. However, public domain works and "out of copyright" materials can be downloaded as PDF copies and eventually printed too.
This topic is really controversial because many people would debate the legality of this kind of endeavor. Dozens of critics attacked Google because they make snippets of copyrighted material freely available. And they argue whether this is an infringement.
(Cover of Friedrich Nietzsche’s Antichrist as seen in Google Book Search.)
Google does an amazing job at scanning books. Their “robotic scanner” rate exceeds 3,000 books per day. The overall project might be worth more than $100 million. This is an amazing contribution to human kind, even if some critique it. I also think that it falls under “fair use,” and thus it is not a copyright infringement. Think of it like visiting a library and while sipping your coffee/soda, you are skimming through books.
Taking a Break
Throughout this part we’ve covered four Google features— Analytics, Apps, Docs and Book Search. Also, we’ve kick-started this phenomenal multi-part series. You now know why it is really important to be familiar with the services and utilities of Google. You should offer them your recognition and benefit the most.
In the next part of this series we are going to continue our "feature presentation" with Google Maps and Earth, Google News and News Archive, Blogger, and Picasa. Then gradually we will begin to cover what Google is up to and some of other tremendous contributions to human kind — projects that look really promising for the future!
I really hope that what you’ve read here was informative. During this part I’ve given you a “sense” of what’s to come and hopefully I’ve motivated you to stick around for the upcoming parts. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Imagine being able to hold a discussion about one of our era's biggest corporations like a true professional.
You will get there. By following this series you will end up knowing what to expect, what Google does to redefine our lives and dominate the Information Age. I, for one, think that we all should know more about Google apart from “it’s just a cool search engine!”
Stay tuned, the next part is coming soon — really soon, and it’s going to rock your world!
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