The first thing that was Googled was the name Gerhard Casper, who was the president of Stanford University at the time. It’s interesting to think about how this seemingly ordinary search query marked the beginning of what would become one of the most influential and powerful companies in the world.
Back in the mid-1990s, Google was just a small project conceived by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford University students. They started working on a search engine that would revolutionize the way we find information on the internet. Little did they know that their creation would become synonymous with searching and would eventually dominate the online landscape.
It’s worth noting that at the time, Google was not yet called Google. The project was initially named Backrub, but as it grew and evolved, the name was changed to Google, a play on the word “googol,” which is a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. This name change was a pivotal moment in the company’s history, as it marked the birth of the iconic brand we know today.
When Larry Page and Sergey Brin first launched their search engine, they needed a real-life query to test its functionality. As they were at Stanford University, they decided to search for the name of their university’s president, Gerhard Casper. It was a simple and practical choice, allowing them to see if their search engine could effectively retrieve relevant information about a specific person.
From that moment on, Google started indexing web pages and providing users with accurate and efficient search results. The search engine quickly gained popularity, thanks to its innovative PageRank algorithm, which ranked web pages based on their relevance and authority. This approach was a game-changer, as it provided users with more accurate search results compared to other search engines at the time.
As Google’s reputation grew, so did its user base, and it wasn’t long before the search engine became the go-to option for internet users worldwide. The company continued to expand its services, introducing new features like Google Images, Google Maps, Gmail, and many others. Today, Google is not only a search engine but a multinational technology company that offers a wide range of products and services.
Reflecting on the first search query on Google, it’s fascinating to consider how it all started with a simple search for the name of a university president. This humble beginning highlights the potential for unexpected success and innovation that can arise from even the most mundane beginnings.
The first thing that was Googled was the name Gerhard Casper, then president of Stanford University. This initial search query marked the beginning of Google’s journey to becoming the global powerhouse it is today. It’s a reminder that great ideas can come from anywhere, even a dorm room in a university.