Is there anything Google can't do?

Just when you thought Google would safely stick to the confusing realm of algorithms and metadata, it would appear that Google is on its way to creating self-driving cars.  Amazing, right?  Odd, perhaps.  Scary, a little bit.

This concept was fairly heavily discussed on the web yesterday and I thought I would take a look at how two different online sources reported this:  news.com.au,  a more traditional online news publisher, and Mashable, an aggregation of bloggers writing about all things social media.

The article by News, within its Technology vertical, was very much an overview of the story.  Very little detail was provided by the journalist and it merely stated the facts.  The headline was very straightforward ("Google tests self-driving cars"), which is to be expected.  Current SEO practices would point a journalist in this direction for headlines.  The layout is very clean, which allows for easy reading, however the story doesn't really provide the reader with any particular angle or new piece of knowledge.  It is merely stating the facts, which were clearly gained from Google's own blog announcement.  The journalist would have done well to have included other thoughts on the story or other expert opinions, other than Google's, for a more well-rounded story, particularly seeing as it was so heavily discussed online yesterday.

Mashable, on the otherhand, present a more in-depth discussion on the topic.  Again, their headline isn't particularly striking, however the author provides much more background information on the story.  They have obviously researched what others online are saying about the topic, referencing not only Google's blog, but the New York Times, TechCrunch, and other well-respected sources in the industry. As a result, the author presents not only the facts, but issues of concern to the public (such as safety), as well as possible pros and cons of the new technology.  They even discuss the cynical opinion that such technology merely provides the user / driver the opportunity to use and absorb Google products and advertising.

It is not surprising that a lengthier, more in-depth article is presented on Mashable, as it is a site that focuses on Social Media and online and web technology.  Such a site is always going to be more opinion led.