Chrome Apps: Web Lab

The Google chrome team developed an application called “The Web Lab” to show people how the internet can be used other than storing a bunch of information. They explain that the internet isn’t some kind of cloud making the internet just exist, but a network system that is comprised of cables and wiring. To achieve this goal they set up five different lab experiences to show the different possibilities that can be achieved in the web museum and or on your computer. Today we are going to be taking a look into each lab and see how these labs can benefit us in whatever way possible.

The first lab experiment is the “Universal Orchestra”. In a nutshell, you are given an assortment of instruments to mess around with, and only 6 tone buttons you are able to use. You can also record 30 second loops with the sound you just made, but that doesn’t sound like an experience. So how is this lab unique? Just like the name states, it’s universal. Others from around the world who are using the same application at this time will be able to play the music with you. Sometimes it can be rough however; since the two of you won’t be communicating you can explain what the right sounding tone is or what it is not. Meaning you cannot ask the user to put the right buttons in the right place. Overall, being able to work with other people in conducting some kind of music soundtrack does prove to be an interest lab experiment. Now let’s move onto the next one.

The next lab experiment is the teleporter. This one is nothing more than looking at some of the popular locations in the world using a special kind of camera to rotate around the room. Sometimes it’s interesting to look around and see what is going on, and with newcomers to the internet it could prove to be something new or interesting. The next lab experiment                is called “Sketch bots”. This one is a bit more interesting. Using a web cam it will take your picture and draw it out with one of their robots in the sand. It will also send you the picture file for you to mess around with it or even so something unique to it. This is a bit more interesting in the machinery concept. But the idea of turning your image into a sketch isn’t too new. In fact your webcam should already have a feature just like that already.

The fourth lab experiment does prove to be an interesting and yet informative way of showing the power of the internet. The lab is called “Data Tracer”. What this does is allow for you to search something or somewhere from the web and it will try its best to find it for you in a short amount of time. Once it does find it however, it will tell you the amount of time it took to find it, and how far it had to travel to get to your computer. To make an interesting game out of this, try to find something it cannot find in a short amount of time. The final lab experiment is called the “Tag explorer”. Essentially it views anyone and everyone’s tag even your own and show off your accomplishments or your creative side through the web lab or the web lab museum. More or less like your own personal profile with limited information required.

Those are the lab experiments in web lab. To be honest, they are nothing that interesting from my point of view. However if someone was new to the internet and took a look at these, it would show people a good way of how you can use the internet for more than just storing information. The application is free to use of course, however if you want to give it a shot I encourage you to do so. It’s fun to try new things, even simple things. So give web lab a try and see for yourself how the internet is more than a cloud, but a bunch of information ready at the touch of your fingertips.