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http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24457737/location-location-location-google-keeps-barges-secret-by (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24457737/location-location-location-google-keeps-barges-secret-by)

Anyone know what google is up to?

Share your thoughts. and give a explanation as to why you think what it is.

It is a structure built on four barges (last time I saw it; there may be more in the final design).  I believe that it's a data center built to be powered by wave action and cooled by seawater.  But, more importantly, it's a boat with a 'zero-point' wave energy engine.

To explain: there is a lot of energy going under a boat all the time in the form of waves.  We have spent much of our effort in marine engineering learning to withstand this energy, the way a bridge withstands buffetting wind.  But it is also possible to take advantage of this energy, first by capturing wave power to operate something onboard (in this case computers) and second, if we are selective about what wave energy we capture with vertical movements of the barges and what wave energy we allow to push us around, we can both derive energy from it (like a windmill) and use it to move boats around in a purposeful steered way (like sails). 

I anticipate that when it is built they will keep it in the bay for tests for several weeks to months, and then move it out into the 'potato patch' (a section of notoriously rough waves right outside San Francisco Bay) for harsher testing and possible deployment.

If I were to speculate about *why* Google is building such a thing, I would note that right now the appropriate database to 'autodrive' cars is starting to exist but the appropriate database to 'autodrive' boats is still out there bound up in thousands and thousands of charts, of various sources and ages, from different companies, and that many of the available charts are just plain wrong.  So I would guess that this is a prototype of the 'Google maps' vehicle for bays, estuaries, lakes, harbors and coastlines, as distinct from the 'Google maps' vehicle for roads. 

im drunk rite now but thank u for the great answer

Google released a statement saying the barges are going to be interactive learning centers where people can learn about new technology.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/06/google-barge-mystery-solved-interactive-learning-center

Heh.  I like my answer better.   :D

thats a big mining-rig.

Oh shit, google found out about Bitcoin and they are going to 51% attack...

That is massive.

One barge ... two barge three barge...


(when these things start popping up in international waters where they dont have to comply with laws, be afraid, be very afraid)
lol

Hahaha! Difficulty jumps to the mooooon!

It will be Satoshis final reveal where upon, in a shower of bitcoin, he will rise to the moon.

Oh and according to some, it could be holding their google glasses!

They are going put in ASIC for mining purposes...

Cool, like a school or something?