Google offers big prize for small power box

It's a great idea to encourage innovation. But I have to wonder who gets patent rights to this new device. $1 million would be nothing if someone were to make a product 1/10 the present size. If Google were to assume ownership of the patents, it would be stupid for that person to take the cash.

....and meanwhile, in the real world Google and its gigantic server farms all over the world gobble up about a large part of the world`s energy production, most of which is still produced (and will be for a very long time), but the simple burning of coal. You can bet that that will never be mentioned in Google PR events.

One single Google search consumes the energy equivalent to making a cup of coffee. Astonishing, but true. You can, well, google it.

Want to really save energy? Disconnect your PC and stop using Google.

@Willi

I'm no Google fan, but to be fair to them, the've debunked the "cup of coffee" myth; it actually requires 35 separate searches to use up the same energy.

And they invest heavily in carbon credits, making their overall carbon footprint negative.

lubracasi:

" I'm no Google fan, but to be fair to them, the've debunked the "cup of coffee" myth; it actually requires 35 separate searches to use up the same energy.

And they invest heavily in carbon credits, making their overall carbon footprint negative. "

Fair enough, but 35 searches for a cup of coffee still adds up to a mind-boggling amount of energy. All these internet activists who spend their day on the computer phantasizing about windmills should think about that.

And "investing" in "carbon credits" does not make anybodys carbon footprint "negative" in any way, shape or form. It simply means that they pay into an artificial government scheme; benefiting the politicians. Their giant server farms keep on gobbling up electricity day and night.

@Willi

I can't argue re carbon credits. They're better than nothing, but "scam" is a reasonable description....