Google Puts Money in the Pockets of “How To” Experts with Introduction of Helpouts

In a move to help people make some cash off their free knowledge, Google launched a tool called Helpouts on Tuesday in which people can pay to get help from experts over a live video chat similar to Google Hangouts. Anyone who is a teacher or expert on a topic can trade their services for payment, either by the task, by the minute or for a set window of time. Some Helpouts are scheduled and others are available on demand. Teachers will have to register with Google before being able to hold lessons.

This is an interesting way to give people another way of making money for themselves without having to rely on regular jobs. However, some argue this lends further into the withdraw of newer generations from the job marketplace and potential market growth. Another question, if more of us are learning to do things for ourselves, could this new platform also lead to cutbacks in “trade” jobs like mechanics or hairstylists?

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF:  https://helpouts.google.com/home

According to CNN, Google has more than 1,000 providers signed up to offer things such as music lessons, cooking demonstrations and basic home repair tips. Yoga instructors can give personal lessons and suggest corrections based on what they see over the video. If someone needs help in a program such as Photoshop, they can screen share with an expert who will guide them.

The company’s biggest competitor in the video-help category is itself. YouTube, owned by Google, is filled with how-to videos for every imaginable subject. There are eyeliner tutorials, cooking lessons and home improvement instructions. There are videos for tech support, self-improvement, learning new skills and changing a light bulb. How-to videos are the second most popular type of online video content, with 56% of adults online watching the instructional clips, according to a recent Pew Internet and American Life Project survey.

Is Google gearing up to take over the world? Will they be Skynet?  Would that really be so bad?
Tells us what you think!