I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag from Google as a sign of thanks.
Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and their advanced knowledge of the API.
Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to participate may be added.
> I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > participate may be added.
> I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > participate may be added.
> > I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> > Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> > Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > > participate may be added.
> > > I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > > > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > > > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > > > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > > > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > > > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> > > Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > > > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > > > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > > > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> > > Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > > > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > > > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > > > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > > > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > > > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > > > participate may be added.
Thanks everyone for your comments and participation! This is exciting, and I look forward to all your contributions!
Newton, unfortunately we don't have any stats that we can show. The initial set of gurus were decided on based on a number of different criteria such as group participation, knowledge of the API, willingness to help, written communication skills, etc.
Keep in mind that this isn't a definitive list as it may change as new members come and go.
Cheers!
Dann
On Sep 14, 8:23 am, "newton andrew" <adverteasem...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > > > > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > > > > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > > > > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > > > > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > > > > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> > > > Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > > > > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > > > > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > > > > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> > > > Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > > > > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > > > > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > > > > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > > > > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > > > > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > > > > participate may be added.
> Thanks everyone for your comments and participation! This is > exciting, and I look forward to all your contributions!
> Newton, unfortunately we don't have any stats that we can show. The > initial set of gurus were decided on based on a number of different > criteria such as group participation, knowledge of the API, > willingness to help, written communication skills, etc.
> Keep in mind that this isn't a definitive list as it may change as new > members come and go.
> Cheers!
> Dann
> On Sep 14, 8:23 am, "newton andrew" <adverteasem...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I'd love to see the statistics that generated these choices as a gadget -- > > "top 10 gurus"
> > On 9/14/07, Vision Jinx (Guru) <vjn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Thanks from me too Dan!
> > > Glad to be part of the team also.
> > > Cheers! > > > Vision Jinx
> > > On Sep 12, 10:56 pm, "Jerome (Guru)" <jerome.mou...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Thanks Dan,
> > > > This is a great pleasure to be Guru-ified. We will try to assist the > > > > Google Gadgets API developers on this group the best we can.
> > > > > I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the launch of our new > > > > > Gadget Gurus program. We've selected a few top contributors to the > > > > > Google Gadgets API Group to act as Gadget Gurus. Gadget Gurus are > > > > > easily recognizable in the group. Simply look for the word '(Guru)' at > > > > > the end of their name. Gurus will also periodically receive schwag > > > > > from Google as a sign of thanks.
> > > > > Gurus will continue to post normally in the group, but are now > > > > > officially noted for their excellent contributions. The gurus were > > > > > selected based on their eagerness to participate in the group and > > > > > their advanced knowledge of the API.
> > > > > Google employees such as myself will continue posting normally, > > > > > alongside the gurus. Our primary focus is to help developers using the > > > > > API, and the gurus will help with that focus by continuing to help > > > > > provide knowledge and answers to those who ask. Remember that this > > > > > list isn't fixed. Gurus who stop participating may be removed, and > > > > > others who demonstrate the level of expertise and willingness to > > > > > participate may be added.
A friend has recently directed my attention to the Google Maps API group where a similar "Guru" program is being rolled out. The equivalent thread in this forum has sparked quite a debate and, having read it all, I think it raises some very valid points.
On Sep 28, 12:39 pm, Bonstio <bons...@gmail.com> wrote:
> A friend has recently directed my attention to the Google Maps API > group where a similar "Guru" program is being rolled out. The > equivalent thread in this forum has sparked quite a debate and, having > read it all, I think it raises some very valid points. > I'd be interested to get your take on this, Dann and also the opinions > of the other gurus :-)
My first reaction is that people are whiney complainers who make a stink out of something that isn't really that big of a deal :)
The Maps API is probably much more active and complex than this group, so perhaps the 1-to-1 comparison is unjustified, I don't know. I see the "Guru" label (although perhaps somewhat embarrassing) to be a good way for Google to delegate support of its complex services by identifying those individuals who have a proven track record of providing helpful and technically accurate assistance to others. It doesn't mean I or you or anyone else necessarily has the right answer or that we are any more qualified to answer questions than others. It's just one way to help guide users as much as possible. I see it as a good thing. To tear it apart and start worrying about all the potential negatives and drawbacks and unfairness is so... typical of anal-retentive programmers ;)
One thing I have wondered is what prevents anyone else from adding "(Guru)" to their nickname? Is this policed somehow? The label of "Guru" feels a bit presumptuous to me, but again it's not that big of a deal to me.
On Sep 28, 7:05 pm, "Matt (Guru)" <m...@mattkruse.com> wrote:
> One thing I have wondered is what prevents anyone else from adding > "(Guru)" to their nickname? Is this policed somehow?
You know, Matt, I wondered the same thing. When the Guru labels started appearing over on the Maps API group, my first thought was that the person in question HAD just added " (Guru)" to their nickname... I thought it a bit presumptuous, but hey, not my problem.
But in answer to your question, no, I don't think it's policed. As a test, I just added " (Guru)" to my own nickname, and it seemed to take. If this post appears like that, we'll know it works. Of course, I'll remove it again once that's established, but it's a good point.
> On Sep 28, 7:05 pm, "Matt (Guru)" <m...@mattkruse.com> wrote:
> > One thing I have wondered is what prevents anyone else from adding > > "(Guru)" to their nickname? Is this policed somehow?
> You know, Matt, I wondered the same thing. When the Guru labels > started appearing over on the Maps API group, my first thought was > that the person in question HAD just added " (Guru)" to their > nickname... I thought it a bit presumptuous, but hey, not my problem.
> But in answer to your question, no, I don't think it's policed. As a > test, I just added " (Guru)" to my own nickname, and it seemed to > take. If this post appears like that, we'll know it works. Of course, > I'll remove it again once that's established, but it's a good point.
The labeling of someone as a guru isn't strictly enforced by the system, just by the Googlers watching the group posts. :)
The posters in the maps thread had concerns with the choice of "guru" as a denotation, and that that has been echoed in this thread. Is this something that the current gurus would like to change? I'm open to suggestions, but would prefer if they could be sent to me by email, rather than continuing this thread.
Thanks!
Best, Dan
On Sep 30, 12:52 am, "String (Guru)" <sterling.ud...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 28, 7:05 pm, "Matt (Guru)" <m...@mattkruse.com> wrote:
> > One thing I have wondered is what prevents anyone else from adding > > "(Guru)" to their nickname? Is this policed somehow?
> You know, Matt, I wondered the same thing. When the Guru labels > started appearing over on the Maps API group, my first thought was > that the person in question HAD just added " (Guru)" to their > nickname... I thought it a bit presumptuous, but hey, not my problem.
> But in answer to your question, no, I don't think it's policed. As a > test, I just added " (Guru)" to my own nickname, and it seemed to > take. If this post appears like that, we'll know it works. Of course, > I'll remove it again once that's established, but it's a good point.
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