Fake Google data center pictures?

I guess everybody has seen the Google data center pictures, I can even recall that somebody posted about it within this Information Strategy blog.

Funny is that I just bumped into an article on NRC (Dutch newspaper) actually doubting whether the pictures are real. When I saw the pictures the first time, I was sure the colors where manipulated. Something I completely understand, I personally photoshop most of my pictures. But after thorough analyses of the pictures, you can see that lots of manipulation is happening, but are they manipulated to look better or is it completely fake?

The photo I posted at the beginning of this blog post shows the data center in Iowa. When you look at the picture you see deer in front of the data center. Obviously not very likely that they can just access the data center without running into a huge fence protecting the data center. So I am quite sure this picture isn’t real and the deer are photo shopped in the picture, but what else is photo shopped? Or is the rest real?

Please click on the link as I didn’t manage to save the picture with the infographics. http://www.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/GOOGLEDLS_007.gif

As you can see in the picture the right side is a reflection (spiegelbeeld) of the left side. When you look very carefully, you can see for example that the yellow cables, in the top of the right hand side, do not continue, so they are not connected to anything. This is another picture making me doubt the reality of the pictures.

On the internet you can find many discussions concerning the Google pictures. Some people arguing that it is fine to photo shop pictures in order to make things look pretty. Something I would definitively not have any trouble with. But what I am wondering, is why the pictures are mirrored? As in my opinion that is only something you would do, when the data center doesn’t actually look like this.

Do you think Google just fine tuned the pictures or are do the picture lie?

LinkedIn becoming a Facebook Look-a-Like or anticipating to market?

As I am currently adding many people out of the Information Strategy class and I see my connections become connections with each other. I can assume LinkedIn is growing rapidly, I conducted some background research and found out that every second two new member profiles are created.

As you might have also noticed, LinkedIn is rapidly increasing its product features. Most importantly to increase the ease of use and therefore hope you supply more personal information. I can perfectly remember signing up for LinkedIn about 5 years ago, not knowing how to use my profile. Nowadays the layout is more user friendly and I personally think they are getting rid of their weakness of not being user friendly. Not too long ago they have also introduced the people you might know option, this can expand your connections rapidly, which I assume is also happening within the Business Information Master. 

Yesterday LinkedIn officially announced their new profile, I signed up to be one of the first to be able to use the profile. Unfortunately it is not yet available, but I will inform you about my opinions about the new profile after using it for the first time. I have already read many critiques on the new LinkedIn profile, most of them stating that the new profile would become a Facebook look-a-like and according to many people this is not the purpose of LinkedIn. But what is according to those people the purpose of LinkedIn, is not stated very well. They consider LinkedIn as a professional network. I am wondering what according to them is the distinction between a professional and a personal network and why this new profile would harm this distinction?

I personally think this is a great improvement, especially because companies, jobs and people will be recommended to you according to your profile. Therefore I think it will become easier to meet the right people within the branch you are working/want to work. Which for me is the main purpose of using LinkedIn.

I am wondering if people are sharing the opinion of many people critiquing the new profile? Why do you think this new profile would not be suitable for a professional network page? Of course when you share my opinion and feel like adding something you are more then welcome.

View the new profile introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IqfefJ6SYTk

Spend less time in the doctors waiting room

ZocDoc is a start-up enabling patients to find doctors and book appointments through the website, a convenient way to find the right doctor in your neighborhood. The company already exists for a while and has been growing fast.

But from today on they have implemented a new service, the check in service, which enables a patient to fill out his medical forms before he goes to the appointment. His medical information will be saved to his account and therefore  he does not have to enter his medical data again.

I personally think this makes going to the doctor way easier and I guess it would also improve the clinics, as doctors are well aware of the reason for the patient visiting their clinic, which makes agenda planning easier and hopefully reduces waiting lines.  

Have a look on their website: http://www.zocdoc.com/