Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google Hires Vint Cerf

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-that's-a-job-i-wish-i-had dept.

hsuwh writes "Google has hired Internet pioneer Vint Cerf away from MCI as its "Chief Internet Evangelist". "He is one of the most important people alive today," said [Google CEO Eric] Schmidt, who has been friends with Cerf for more than 20 years. "Vint has put his heart and soul into making the Internet happen. I know he is going to jump right in here and start shoveling out new ideas for Google.""

3 of 307 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Do they have a strategy behind this? by pjkundert · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Non-linear, pure "invention" doesn't occur on a fixed time table. You cannot plan for it. You can't assemble a team, give them a deadline and some money, and say "OK, go invent the next great thing for me.".

    All you can do is try to assemable the greatest group(s) of already provably inventive poeple you can find, put them in a positive, stimulating environment, and incent them to come up with something great.

    That is what Google is doing. That is exactly NOT what Microsoft, HP, et. al. are doing.

    And no, they don't expect you to understand this.

    --
    -- -pjk Perry Kundert perry@kundert.ca http://kundert.2y.net
  2. Re:Do they have a strategy behind this? by qwijibo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Smart people with a track record of good ideas will generally produce more of them. Google just wants a chance to get the ideas before anyone else. There are such positions in many large companies because good ideas with profit potential will pay many times over for all the unprofitable ideas.

  3. Re:Do they have a strategy behind this? by Alomex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It sure looks like they have a surplus of money and a shortage of ideas what to do with it. So heck, let's hire Turing Award medal winners just for kicks.

    Successful jocks collect supermodels, successful nerds collect supergeeks, I guess.