There is a lot of discussion going on around the new Google Toolbar. It’s
currently only available in beta but several bloggers are already annoyed by
Google’s desire to plant links in web content containing addresses, ISBN’s, and
tracking numbers. This is a legitimate concern but I do like how Google is
pushing the edge here.
Web sites are built around usability and Google is solving an inherent problem
here. Why cut-and-paste addresses and tracking numbers when you can simply
click on a link and receive the information you need? We as web developers
have opened this door ourselves by not presenting these options to our users
already. In a way, we need to take responsibility for this. I agree that this service
should be strictly opt-in and Google has missed the boat here but we can’t place
all the blame on Google.
The web developer community should take this on as a challenge. We need to
provide these options to our users no matter what type of web site we are
developing. Google is pushing the edge here. If we don’t want to give up control
of our content then it’s our job to take it to the next level.
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