Bill Gates Criticises Project Loon as Google Tests Balloons in California After New Zealand [VIDEO]
Google's Project Loon moves on to the next phase of its testing with Google planning on testing the project in California. Project Loon is the company's grand plan to bring the Internet to as many people as possible with the help of balloons.
Google first started testing its giant balloons equipped with network and communications equipment in New Zealand. Google began testing Project Loon in the Central Valley of California. However, Microsoft's co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates has criticised Project Loon's balloons which first saw flight in New Zealand.
In a Google+ post, Google said that the purpose of the flights was to enable the company to gather information on various approaches to improve technology. Google is continues to conduct research on Project Loon's power systems like the solar power orientation and batteries. The Internet search giant is also looking for more information to improve the project's radio configuration and envelope design.
Google has also noted major signal interference when the Project Loon balloon flew over Fresno. Despite Google's testing efforts, top billionaire and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates believes that Project Loon is not a critical issue. He said there are other issues in the world particularly those experienced by underdeveloped countries that should be addressed first.
Mr. Gates said when people are dying of malaria, they might look up at the sky and see Project Loon's balloon and wonder how it might help their condition. Mr. Gates went on and said when a child suffers from diarrhea, no website can relieve the child.
In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Bill Gates said he is a "huge believer" in digital revolution. The power of the Internet connects people to schools and primary health care centers. Mr. Gates believes these are good things but not for low-income families in less-developed countries.
Bill Gates is also the chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which was founded to help improve education and health around the world. Mr. Gates and his foundation is working to eradicate malaria which is one of the many health problems affected millions. The foundation has already pledged $2 billion worth of grants to fight malaria and allotted $1.4 billion to eradicate tuberculosis and AIDS.
Despite Bill Gates criticism of Project Loon first tested in New Zealand, Google has previously said the project was in its "very early days" and the company is now working on future developments.