Google NOT Hot For SILICON ALLEY Technology!
While Googler Emiretus Vint Cerf ponders about Google in space, I wonder about Google’s intentions here on earth: Does Google HEART the New York technology community, notably?
When Google opened up the doors to its spanking new Manhattan Googleplex one year ago, the “engineering driven company” pledged to be a welcoming and supportive member of the Silicon Alley tech community. Marcus Mitchell, Engineering Director, personally told me that “Google wants to support and expand the New York tech community.”
Google executed on its promise, initially.
I enjoyed top NYC Googleplex engineer Alan Warren’s surprisingly candid pitch to a NY software industry trade group last fall and several open house receptions at the Googleplex this past winter featuring presentations by Google engineers representing different facets of the Google engineering story: Adam Bosworth, Luiz Barroso….Leland Rechis.
Come Spring, however, Google locked-down the Manhattan Googleplex, blocking press from hearing “the father of the Internet,” Mr. Cerf, share his future vision, and prohibiting all “citizen” attendees of Googleplex events from talking or writing publicly about anything seen or heard while attending Google public events.
Yesterday, I was particularly taken aback when a Google Enterprise keynoter on the Interop stage at New York’s Javits Center, addressing an audience of New York information technologists, was oblivious to the great technology contributions of the great state of New York!
While Matthew Glotzbach’s presentation was a disappointment on many levels, the seeming “diissing” of New York’s technology capabilities before an audience of New Yorker’s, on a New York stage, may take the Google enterprise cake.
Glotzbach showed a fire-engine red slide of “hot beds” of technology innovation; Google apparently believes there are seven of them worldwide: Silicon Valley (CA), India, China, South Korea, Route 128 (Boston, MA), Israel, Nordics.
Conspicuously absent: New York!
Glotzbach “dazzled” the New York IT audience with tales of Starbucks forays in San Francisco with his infant girl. Perhaps he ought to get out more in New York, though, purportedly the home of Google’s second-largest engineering base worldwide.
Hey, Glotzbach can even just “Google-it” to update himself on just how “hot” technology is in New York: “nyc tech innovation”! How about:
NYStar, New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research
Funding world-class university/industry partnerships for high-technology research and commercialization to spur the development, design and manufacture of new technologies in nanotechnology, electronics, life sciences, information technology, software, optics, materials processing…
Eight academic research centers, five advanced research centers, 15 centers for advanced technology, 10 regional technology development centers…engaging in frontier science, applied science, new technology and technology transfer.
PLUS, don’t forget New York’s private sector technology initiatives, such as:
Cooper Union Research Foundation: Basic and applied research to benefit society: Biomedical engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics, robotics, chemical processing, infrastructure…
New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program (maybe Google does want to forget; i.e, the home base of Dodgeball!): Vital contributor of new ideas and talented individuals to the professional world of multimedia and interactivity.
GOOGLE: Isn’t it time to show some MORE love for New York technology AND the New York tech community, BLOGGERS INCLUDED!
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