Google launched Google Bus in India (Tamilnadu)

Its very good for India

[AjiNIMC]

I remember the 3 year campaign that I ran to educate Army families about computers and Internet. It was called SOCH (means "A thought"). It was quite helpful for the family.

I can see the same thing happening with Google Bus

[picasaweb.google.com...]
[google.co.in...]

I was Google yesterday and Googlers were very excited about the Google bus project (I am not sure whether it is already covered here).

Being an Indian, I know how exciting it will be for people to discover Internet through Google bus. Bus looks really cool. It is launched only in Tamilnadu, they have plans for other states as well.

Regards,
Aji

[mack]

AjiNIMC, thanks for posting that, its the first I had heard about it. It certainly seams like a good way of bringing the internet to the people.

I imagine the project is mainly aimed at schools and colleges where they can show students first hand what Google errr I mean the internet can do for them :)

The areas the bus is traveling to, are these areas where the net is yet to be mainstream? or are they simply educating users on how to get the most from the web?

Mack.

[AjiNIMC]

As far as I know it is targeting rural India introducing Web to them. Since this is as virgin as you get so expect more refining in the mission.

I did suggest them to introduce web entrepreneurship to young Indians, so that they can try more things and form their foundation on web when they are really young and have more time in hand.

[Murdoch]

It also gives Google an idea of how people who have NEVER navigated the internet navigate the internet.

Pretty priceless info to them too I'd guess...

[Bentler]

Great idea. My first neighborhood had no library nearby, but a travelling Bookmobile would stop by from time to time, like Judy Sierra's "Wild About Books"... I remember visiting it as a kid just learning to read was like going to the candy store. I can imagine what's on a Google Bus would be magic to people viewing it with fresh eyes.

[GrendelKhan TSU]

they did this in Korea years ago with imperceivable results.

though I hear it was fun for like... all 15 ppl that use google here in korea.

lol

[AjiNIMC]

they did this in Korea years ago with imperceivable results.

When I searched for internet bus, I did get some reference of Korea. The very next day at a different conference, I met the Google guys and I clarified with them about India being the first to have such a bus. They did claim that India was the first country to have it, may be they were not aware of Korea.

Personally, I know how exciting it is. When I used to run such a campaign for Army families, it was just so much motivating. I say that it was just like adding a new dimension to their thoughts. They never thought Internet and Web is so powerful.

I was in Chennai last week and I was giving a demo of Ticket booking to some locals, they were just trilled with the results. They were really amazed with Google maps.

Any initiatives to help people realize the power of Internet and web is appreciated (even from the Google).