Creative minds Chris Kirk and Heather Brady decided that they needed a space in which to grieve when their trusted Google services went and died on them. Together they came up with the Google Graveyard, a virtual burial ground for all of the programs that this search engine has developed, only to see fail or be cancelled.
Anyone can go visit the site and place a virtual flower on the graves of such ideas as Google Search Timeline, Google Reader and, one that hit me the hardest, Picnik. There is even an empty space ready for Google Glass. Only the last 3,000 flowers are shown as they are cleared out regularly, showing that many people's lives were touched by these Google services.
Search Engine Failure Burials
The Google Graveyard is Where Google Services Go to Die
Trend Themes
1. Search Engine Failure Mourning - As consumers become more reliant on technology, there is an opportunity for companies to create virtual spaces that allow people to mourn the loss of their favorite digital tools.
2. Innovative Product Development - The Google Graveyard demonstrates the need for tech companies to focus on innovation and create new products that meet consumers' ever-changing needs and preferences.
3. Digital Service Discontinuation - As technology continues to evolve, there will be a growing need for companies to consider the long-term implications of discontinuing their digital services and the impact on consumers.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - The technology industry has an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for innovative products and services in response to the frustration over discontinuation of familiar digital tools.
2. Social Media - Social media platforms can create new features that can honor the memories of discontinued applications and services and offer consumers alternative tools.
3. Marketing - Marketing agencies can leverage the frustration at the loss of digital services to encourage loyalty from users of different digital tools.