On its 10th anniversary, Google kicks off Project 10^100
27 Sep 2008
Not many may have noticed the small link on Google's homepage, just below the search bar, titled ''Project 10^100''. Clicking on the link will transfer the user to a page where Google outlines the rationale behind the project, accompanied by a small video, ''May those who help the most win''.
Going into further details, one finds that it is a call for ideas ''to change the world by helping as many people as possible.'' On the occasion of the company's tenth anniversary, Google has taken upon itself to encourage the implementation of certain ideas, which contribute towards humanity in general.
As part of this effort, the project (pronounced "Project 10 to the 100th") is asking for ideas from Netizens around the world, starting 20 October. A selection of 100 ideas would be put up for vote on its website for the general public to select 20 semi-finalists, out of which five chosen by an advisory board would be eligible for $10 million in Google funding.
The following are the categories and selection criteria for the competition:
- Community: How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
- Opportunity: How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
- Energy: How can we help move the world towards safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
- Environment: How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
- Health: How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
- Education: How can we help more people get more access to better education?
- Shelter: How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
- Everything else: Sometimes the best ideas don't fit into any category at all.
As to the reason behind the esoteric name for the venture, there's a slight bit of history here. The company name actually comes from the word ''googol'', which refers to the giant number 10100 (or10 to the power of 100, expressed numerically by 1 followed by 100 zeroes).
According to a story, one of the earliest cheques issued to the company had misspelt the word, and the name stuck.