By Ethan Lyon, Senior Writer

Google announced last night it would be developing an operating system, called Chrome OS, for release in 2010. Just as Microsoft takes aim at Google’s search expertise with Bing, Google is launching Chrome OS (operating system) to compete head-to-head with the software juggernaut’s bread and butter.

Google is not going to develop a Microsoft OS clone, however. The search giant is going to overhaul the way users perceive an OS. Microsoft has been developing an OS that primarily uses hard disc space—which takes up space and often leads to slow computing. Google, however, perceives OS from a web perspective. By leveraging the web, Google can create an entirely new OS experience for users by eliminating viruses, malware and security updates and enhancing speed, simplicity and security.

The unique element Google is infusing into their new operating system is collaboration. Collaborative intelligence (CQ, like IQ) combines the individual intelligence of many practitioners to create or enhance a new product or service. Much like Wikipedia, Google will call upon their legions of enthusiastic developer fans to create a vastly different user interface—that improves upon the weaknesses of today’s technologies. These empowered legions of fans are a part of the Home-Turf King trend–that says internet users are increasingly encouraged to explore, create, collaborate and build.

To enable the collaborative feature of Chrome OS, Google has build the platform on top of a Linux (an open source OS) kernel.  CQ has been an integral part in the evolution of the internet. Wikipedia is a perfect example of CQ. And consider the millions of blogs and social networks out there—all created with little-to-no overhead.

Why? Collaboration and community is inherent in our nature. We are taking the natural tendencies that have evolved over tens of thousands of years to create vast networks for sharing and exchanging information in the digital age. Google has capitalized on our inherent nature with their new OS and aims to harness CQ to develop an OS that goes beyond the Microsoft way of thinking. Collaboration is how Google innovates and why Microsoft should be a little nervous…

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