Google, the search engine giant, is commemorating its 25th birthday with a special Google Doodle. While the company always focuses on the future, milestones like birthdays offer a chance for reflection. In this article, we delve into the origins of Google, its evolution, and its enduring mission to organize the world’s information for universal accessibility and utility.
The Birth of Google: 1998
Doctoral Dreamers
In the late 1990s, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, both pursuing doctoral degrees in Stanford University’s computer science program, crossed paths. These two visionaries shared a common dream: to make the World Wide Web more accessible and user-friendly.
From Dorm Rooms to Garages
From the confines of their dorm rooms, Brin and Page worked tirelessly on a prototype for a superior search engine. As their project gained momentum, they relocated to Google’s first official workspace – a rented garage. On September 27, 1998, Google Inc. was formally founded.
Google’s Evolution: 25 Years of Transformation
The Changing Face of Google
One noticeable aspect of Google’s journey has been the evolution of its logo. Today’s Google Doodle, celebrating the 25th anniversary, highlights this evolution. The playful and dynamic changes in the Google logo over the years reflect the company’s adaptability and commitment to innovation.
Global Impact
From its humble beginnings in a garage, Google has grown into a global tech powerhouse. Billions of people worldwide now rely on Google for a myriad of purposes – from searching for information to connecting with others, working, playing, and much more. Google has become an integral part of the digital lives of individuals and businesses alike.
Mission Unchanged: Organizing the World’s Information
Google’s Enduring Mission
Throughout its 25-year journey, Google’s mission has remained steadfast: to organize the world’s information and ensure its universal accessibility and utility. This mission has driven the company’s innovations, from search algorithms to the development of products like Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Drive.
Impact on Society
Google’s commitment to its mission has had a profound impact on society. It has revolutionized the way we access and interact with information, making knowledge more accessible than ever before. Google’s tools have empowered individuals, businesses, educators, and researchers across the globe.
10 interesting things you must Know about google
- According to a Google report, the first meeting between Sergey Brin and Larry Page, was marked by disagreement on almost every subject.
- The search engine initially relied on analyzing links to assess the importance of individual web pages within the World Wide Web. It was first named ‘Backrub’ due to its focus on evaluating ‘back links’ to gauge a website’s importance. Subsequently, it underwent a name change to become Google
- The name Google was a clever play on the mathematical expression representing the number 1 followed by 100 zeros.
- According to ICANN, the organization in charge of registering domain names at the time, Google.com was registered on September 15, 1997. But, Google, did not launch its website until September 1998.
- The first office of Google in 1998 was operated from a garage located at Menlo Park, California, which happened to be owned by their employee no. 16 Susan Wojcicki. She would later go on to become the CEO of YouTube, the official online video-sharing platform under Google.
- Google introduced Yoshka as the first company dog, the first dog to ever visit Google’s campus when the office moved to the Mountain View location. Yoshka passed away in 2011, but his memory lives on. In December 2011, a ceremony was held at a previously unnamed cafe at Google’s Mountain View campus. The unnamed fafe in building 43 was henceforth known as Yoshka’s Cafe, in the dog’s honor.
- The tradition of maintaining a colorful atmosphere in its offices continues even now.
- In 2006, the term ‘Google’ became a verb in the dictionary. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary included the word ‘Google’ with the meaning: “to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (someone or something) on the World Wide Web”
- On February 25, 2009, Google sent out its first tweet, which was written in binary code and when translated to English conveyed the message, “I’m feeling lucky.”
- Google awards scholarships to students in an effort to encourage them to pursue careers in the field of technology
Conclusion
As Google celebrates its 25th birthday with a special Doodle, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey of two doctoral students who started from dorm rooms and a garage. Their vision and dedication have transformed Google into a global force that touches the lives of billions. Through evolving logos and innovative products, Google has upheld its mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. As we look back on the past 25 years, we can only imagine the innovations and transformations that lie ahead in the future of Google.