Why using Google is NOT cheating!

We all love Google. There are very few who think Google is a curse than a boon. It is essential to know that the features provided by Google is overshadowed by the approach that Google follows. The cool, unsophisticated, abstract and catchy ideas attract us to the Google platform. Be it the Gmail, or picasa or Wave, Google has always reinvented all that existed before. From all our daily needs to requirements of projects, Google always comes to our help. But there are some people who loath the use of Google or any other search engine for that matter.

Why a few think using Google is cheating?

Some think that the infromation and knowledge you get from books or from instructors is the end of the world. In projects or in real life, information hunting using Google is simply not applying the education already received but simply copying similar solutions to the present situation. They believe Google restricts the capability to think independently and allows innovation.

Why they are wrong?

Google is not our problem solver. More importantly learning is not a process that ends with our exams or project submissions. It does not even end with the end of college or end of a module in an office training center. Indeed it is the beginning. Learning is a lofe long process. We hunt information from Google because we need it. We do so for many a reasons. They are as follows :

• We are lazy
• Lack of knowledge
• We want to know more
• We know the solution, we just want to make sure if that is the best
• We want to know if there are new alternatives
• We want to know any effects it might have and so on

If you notice the above points, you will find that there is only one point that is negative and warrants negative feedback. All the others are indeed desirable.

So what about innovation?

Yes, what about it? Does Googling stop innovation. Tell that to the people in the biggest research projects. Tell them to resist using any search engines. Do they not have expertise? They do. Still they regularly search and collect information in their relevant field for new breakthroughs and leads. Or simply how to manipulate information in a simple Excel sheet for example. :)

Innovation is not impeded by Google. Indeed it is furthered. Cusriosity is good. Even natural. Google does not prevent it. It fuels it. Without a doubt.