Google has just announced its latest data-gathering initiative, and it is every bit as creative as it is, well, quirky. Using a custom-built white van, Google would be travelling across the country in order to gather pertinent data about how users interact with the company's numerous services. There's just one thing.
Amusingly, those participating in the tech giant's study would have to step into a large white van while a number of strangers watch while they use Google's services. While the initial premise might be a bit uncomfortable for some, Google assures those who will be participating in the study that their time will be worth it.
Participants would be inside the van for about 15 to 90 minutes as they test a number of the company's current, and possibly, even future services. For giving their time to the study, Google would be giving participants exclusive t-shirts and gift cards.
Indeed, that's not such a bad deal. The company conducting the study is Google, after all.
Considering the size of the company, some critics of the project have emerged, stating that the study is most probably more of a goodwill tour than an actual study.
However, Laura Granka, a researcher from Google focusing on Search and Maps, stated that such was not the case.
"We are trying to understand the whole end-to-end experience, which is why we are trying to get out to more locations and see more people so we can gather more context," she said.
In a way, utilizing the white van to gather data from a series of locations would actually give Google some useful, real-life data. After all, the cross-country road trip would enable the company to break out of its Silicon Valley bubble.
Google has previously been testing most of its products in the San Francisco Bay Area, a location where the demographic is already tech-savvy. By essentially creating a highly sophisticated lab on wheels, Google would be able to get some useful data from locations with a completely different demographic.
The Google Van is set to start its six-week road trip in New York, moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Clemson, S.C., Atlanta, Ga., Boulder, Colo., Salt Lake City, Utah, Reno, Nev., and South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
The company has stated that if the Google Van project proves successful, it would start sending out similar mobile labs to other areas in the U.S. and possibly other countries, as well.
