Google [x]: Project Management

Jordan Krumrey

What is Google [x]?

It is a “secretive” lab ran by Google in which teams attempt to create innovative technology that have very little chance of succeeding. But, if successful, would revolutionize the world.

Their ideas are called “moonshots” and Google claims to be working on over 100 different “moonshot” projects. Known ones are Glass, Loon, and driverless cars. Most are still kept in secrecy.

The culture of Google [x] is one that believes in failure as it promotes creativity.

Moonshot: What is it?

“Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, "Because it is

there.”” –John F. Kennedy

Moonshot ideas are were bold ideas and science fiction converge.

Moonshot ideas take a huge problem, propose aradical solution, and usebreakthrough technologyin the hopes of making improvements that have never been done before.

Google [x] mindset

Google promotes a culture of creativity› No penalties for failing.

Allow people the time to think in depth about personal problems and possible solutions in an effort to generate new and amazing ideas› Employees are allowed a certain amount of time each

week to set aside for working on their own personal projects of interest. Encourages the employees to get creative and learn to accept failure.

Google [x] employees come from various backgrounds. › Different minds with different experiences and

backgrounds converge their ideas.

Google [x] Rapid Evaluation Team

The Rapid Evaluation marks the beginning of the innovation process. › This method stresses rejecting ideas over

asserting them. Process consist of authenticating and

investigating the idea and then test them.› The objective of testing is to seek out every

potential way, human or technological, to make them fail.

› They WANT to fail as quickly as possible

Project Loon: Balloon-powered Internet for everyone

What is it?› It is a network of balloons, that are

stationed 20km in air, that produce a wireless network for everyone around the world to use.

› Goal is to use the balloons to fill in coverage gaps so that everyone, such as those in rural areas or in disaster areas, can be connected to the internet.

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The beginning of Loon

The team leader of Rapid Eval, Rich DeVaul, initially came up with an idea that involved connections between mobile devices. However, in June 2011, his idea evolved into a more global revolution, which is Loon as we now know it.

Google worked with Lockheed, who were the ones to create the high-altitude communication airships. › There was a challenge in creating an airship that would

stay in one area. The solution was solved by DeVaul who came up with the

idea of having the airship“float” while having another one following behind it. This is where the balloon design was born.

Testing Loon

To test his solution, DeVaul, purchased $80 weather balloons online, added a radio transmitter to them using cardboard boxing, launched them, and then drove around under them in his car.

Loon became an official Google [x] project in August 2011.› A team was then hired to build a fleet of prototypes.› An antenna was built by engineer Mitch Heinrich.

Google [x] team built a model house within their workshop to test the antenna with the goal to understand how the antenna should be configured with a home.

Finalization of Loon

Google launched their pilot program in New Zealand in June 2013.

It was rolled out as an actual business proposal

Sources

Betters, Elyse. "Google X explained: What's really going on at Google's secret lab?." PocketLint. PocketLint, 21 Jan 2014. Web. 8 May 2014. <http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/126681-google-x-explained-what-s-really-going-on-at-google-s-secret-lab>.

Administrator, . "Project Loon." How Loon Works. Google, n.d. Web. 8 May 2014. <http://www.google.com/loon/how/>.

Gertner, Jon. "The Truth About Google X: An Exclusive Look Behind The Secretive Lab's Closed Doors." FastCompany. FastCo, n.d. Web. 8 May 2014. <http://www.fastcompany.com/3028156/united-states-of-innovation/the-google-x-factor>.

Administrator, . "SolveForX." Moonshots. GoogleX, 1 Feb 2012. Web. 8 May 2014. <https://www.solveforx.com/about/>.

JFK RICE MOON SPEECH. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm

Watch How Google X Employees Deal With Failure. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.fastcompany.com/3029114/most-innovative-companies/watch-how-google-x-employees-deal-with-failure

http://www.fastcompany.com/3028156/united-states-of-innovation/the-google-x-factor