Google's Self-Driving Car

 Google has been working undercover on a different kind of engine then their used to. It is no longer just a computer engine but a CAR engine. Google has recently released their latest invention and project: a self-driving car.

Google Self-Driving Car License Approved in Nevada

                 (Image Credit: Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles)

Nevada is putting the pedal to the metal on those autonomous automobiles.
It was just two months ago that the state approved and set regulations that would allow self-driving vehicles on the state’s roadways. And today it announced that it has approved Google for the first testing license under the new rules.

Google, which was instrumental in pushing through the original legislation in Nevada, has been testing its very own self-driving automobile for a number of years on its campuses and other secret locations. (“Good Morning America” even took it for a spin in 2010.)

“It is the first license issued in the United States under new laws and regulations that put Nevada at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development,” the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles said in a statement.



This now means that Google will be able to test its self-driving Toyota Priuses on the roads; yes, up and down the Las Vegas strip. Other drivers will be able to tell self-driving cars apart by a red license plate, which features an infinity symbol on the left. Of course, they also will be able to tell the difference by the large scanning laser device on the top of the car.

While Google is the first to file for an application for a license in Nevada, other car manufacturers such as  BMW and Audi are working on similar vehicles. The cars themselves use a mix of hardware and software to drive themselves.

Google maintains that the technology is not supposed to replace drivers, but rather help them. Instead of attempting to text while driving or change the GPS location, drivers can let the car do the work while they are distracted. Nevada requires that two drivers be in the test cars now, a human back-up driver and a passenger. In the limited test program, however, Google is asking to exempt those back-up drivers from text messaging while driving laws.

Humans can always gain control of the car by taking hold of the wheel or stepping on the brake.
While this is a big step in the future of the self-driving vehicle, we probably won’t be seeing these cars hitting prime time just yet. Google’s version is still in the prototype phase. General Motors has predicted the technology will be standard by 2020. {Information Credits ABCnew & Joanna Stern}

Yelp Vs. Google

If companies are planning properly and being aware of their Internet presence I believe that most companies would want a positive reputation on the Internet. Having a commendable reputation will allow more customers to trust the company and use the companies services. This helps with getting new clients and in turn more money! Yelp is one review sits that has really made themselves known on the internet. Another site that allows reviews to be written about companies is Google place or Google maps.

So how do you know which one to use and which one will be most beneficial? Yelp has an computerized system that sifts through reviews and only posts the ones they believe at legitimate reviews. Although, this can lead to an incorrect amount of reviews that have been written and it only shows the ones that the computer wants to accept. Personally, I don't see this approach as a positive way of going about learning what the public thinks about a company.

As for Google, they keep all reviews and don't allow some to get removed if the computer doesn't "like" them. This gives a more authentic and realistic count of what the people are saying. Even though going to Google to review places isn't as popular as yelp {yet}, it has a more real display of company reviews.

So be aware and careful while basing your decision or perception of a company on what you have read from a review site. It is always better to know from personal experience what a company is like instead of judging a company from Internet comments from other people.

"Connecting Your Social Media Accounts"

"Many businesses would like to have a strong social media presence, but are put off by the sheer number of social networks available. It’s easy to get overwhelmed but remember, you don’t have to be on all social networking sites. In fact, being on sites that don’t directly speak to your target audience, or on sites that your target audience doesn’t frequently visit, can be detrimental to your business, and a waste of your valuable time.

A good place to start when entering the realm of social media is with the heavy hitters; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube for video content, and your business blog. If this list still seems overwhelming, don’t despair! There’s a way to connect all these social networking sites so you’re not spending half your day posting the same YouTube link to all your different followers.
It is best to set up Facebook as your hub when connecting all your different social networking sites. This is because Facebook has a huge amount of applications that have been developed for all sorts of social networking related purposes. All you have to do is go to the Facebook Application Directory and search for the appropriate application, chances are it’s there in the directory. Next up, how to connect your blog, Twitter, and Youtube accounts to Facebook."
(Thank you Out-Smarts Marketing for the information)

"Pin It"

There is a new social networking friend in town! Pinterest! Essentially an online pin board that keeps track of your favorite things on the Internet and separates them into “boards” and categories. It has grown exponentially and has now received as much attention as Tumblr (An online blog).




Although Pinterest is moving up on the social networking latter, Facebook still steels the show. According to Mashable Social Media, "It’s no secret that the Internet loves Pinterest. Now, most users are even spending more time, on average, pinning than they are on hanging out on Facebook. Here’s what you need to know about Pinterest user demographics.
With an average of 1.36 million users daily, the social photo pinboard has taken the web by storm, and top online retailers are following suit."


It will be interesting to see where social media people take Pinterest and how the company brands themselves from here on out. Keep an eye on this form of media though; it may take the Internet by surprise!

Social networking has been helping to improve businesses recognizably, transforming the way we view politics, increase Search Engine Optimization and incorporating a professional website that allows you to be seen and heard on the Internet. If you haven’t figured out how important social networking is for your business, let me give you a brief overview of how beneficial it is! Social Networking isn’t merely a tool to post information about your company or events you have coming up. Social networking links into a wide range of other helpful tools that all add up to your businesses success. Social networking has seemingly transformed into a global phenomenon over night. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) has moved past simple e-mails to a world that allows you to personal custom accounts and websites that provide information about yourself or your company. Since the Internet is a growing channel that is assessable to a large number of individuals, it is important to know and understand how to utilize the gift of the World Wide Web.

Integrating social networking into your business strategy has lately been an important topic and a necessary direction companies have to lean towards. For why this is so important and how social networking can actually help with your business click HERE.

Social networking has also been a game changed for the world of politics. It has offered new techniques to incorporate individual activity online that helps support potential candidates as well as getting their name in the public eye. Read HERE for the most resent example we have seen with Barrack Obama.

Giving customers one specific place to find all the information about your company will insure that you won’t get lost in the web. Within web browsers it is important that your company is ranking on the first page so you are easier to spot if someone is looking for something in your general field. The proper Search Engine Optimization (SEO) will be a key factor is your company’s reorganization online. Learn 5 steps you should take to make this happen, by clicking HERE.

Lastly, if you haven’t made a social networking appearance yet and want to know which sites provide you with the best results click HERE.