Tim Wang's eLearning Blog

I started seeing these so called commonweal banners from Google on multiple Chinese web sites. This is one way for Google to establish its dominating image in the search engine industry in China. The banner is simply a white background with a question in the middle such as, “How deep is the ocean?”; “Where is the nearest planet?”; “What is largest numerical value?”; “What’s the temperature in sun?”; “How deep is the ocean?” etc. Following the question is a line “Google will help you to find the answer.” By clicking on the banner, you will reach the Google search page with results to the question which was on the banner. What I find these banners quite interesting is that it really catches kids’ attention. What’s the chance of having them read pages of encyclopedia? Imagine let them play some online games and toss them a banner like this, have them browse through the result sites and develop their own interests in learning. I have not yet encounter a banner like this in English, maybe Google feels no need to further establish it leading role in the Western world.

A sample banner, screen captured from a Chinese website, 1/2 of it's original size: