What is Google: Solve for X

There are a variety of problems these days; Global warming, poverty, Illiteracy, debt crises, these are only a few. Google has decided to give solving these problems a shot and created the “Solve for X” initiative. This project brings together some of Google’s greatest minds and asks them to creatively tackle some of the most perplexing global issues. The hope is that the “Solve for X” brain trust will develop revolutionary solutions using current technologies in a way previously unthought-of.

Tackling the biggest global issues

Of course, it’s not all that simple. The “Solve for X” brain trust will be taking on problems that have long befuddled world leaders. Nevertheless, the individuals behind this project are nothing if not eager. They are saying the work taking place here is akin to the innovative thinking that was required to send humans to the moon. On the “Solve for X” website, Google talks about it this way: “This combination of things—a huge problem to solve, a radical solution for solving it and the breakthrough technology to make it happen—is the essence of a moonshot.”

Tackling water scarcity

Last month Mashable.com ran a story on the “Solve for X” project. Mashable cited the account of an individual who participated in a “Solve for X” retreat. He said they were focused on the issue of water scarcity. What solutions did they come up with on this retreat? One involved forward osmosis with recycled ammonium salts. It’s fine if you do not know what that means, luckily the people at “Solve for X” do.

The need for technology brain trusts

“Solve for X” may not create any real, practical, solutions for the world’s problems nevertheless the brain trust idea certainly has possibilities. Technology has, and can, alter the world for the better; we merely need outside the box thinking to come up with ideas. So we shall see if “Solve for X” comes up with progressive purposes of technologies we currently have.