Google’s 25-Year Adventure: Some Fun and Fascinating Facts
Google, the tech giant which has become synonymous with internet search, is celebrating its 25 years this month! Over the past quarter-century, many feel Google has transformed the way we access information, connect with people, and explore the world. To honour this milestone, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore some fascinating fun facts about Google’s journey so far.
Humble Google Beginnings
Google was born in a Stanford University dorm room when Larry Page and Sergey Brin collaborated on a search engine called “Backrub” – don’t ask! The two founders had a vision to organise the vast amount of information on the internet, and they worked tirelessly to turn their dream into reality.
A Play on Words
Ever wondered why it’s called Google? Well, it’s a play on “googol,” which is 1 followed by 100 zeros. They wanted to tell us they could organize a mind-boggling amount of internet stuff. Mission accomplished!
Google Doodles
Google’s famous doodles started back in 1998. The first one was a simple stick figure visiting the Burning Man festival. Larry and Sergey were basically saying, “We’re out of the office, but hey, we’re still here in spirit!”
What’s to.com for?
Google’s homepage is celebrated for its elegant and minimalist design. However, the company also owns the domain “to.com,” a purchase made in 2016, with the purpose shrouded in mystery. Speculation has it that this domain might have relevance to Google Stadia, the company’s cloud gaming platform, although that’s dead now, so who knows?
A Global Google Reach
Google speaks the language of the world, with its services available in over 150 languages. They’ve set up shop all over the globe, making sure everyone can join in on the Google fun.
Google Giving
Google isn’t just about profits; they’re big on giving back. Google.org is their philanthropic arm, and it’s donated tons of cash to all kinds of good causes, from disaster relief to education.
Dreaming Big
Google doesn’t stop at search. They’ve dipped their toes into self-driving cars (hello, Waymo!) and delved into mind-blowing AI research with DeepMind. Big dreams, big impact.
Daring to take risks
Google’s first ever tweet was “I’m feeling lucky” written in binary code. It was based on their “I’m Feeling Lucky” button on search which took users to the first search result website directly instead of presenting the list.
How many more years will Google be here for?
So, here’s to Google, the tech superstar that started as a crazy idea in a dorm room and became a global phenomenon. From making sense of the internet to exploring new frontiers in tech, Google’s journey has been nothing short of incredible. Cheers to another 25 years of Google magic, fun doodles, and, of course, the occasional mystery of “to.com”. Happy 25th, Google! 🎉