Last week, Google added Google News Badges to their news page. In line with other efforts to personalize your news feed through Google+ and +1, Google News Badges allows users to easily keep track of the different topics they follow within the daily newsfeed. There is still room for possibility, but Google News Badges does represent an influential interest in the power of gamification by one of the world’s largest tech companies.
If you enjoy perusing politics, there is a political badge that progresses with each story you read, as well as similar badges for many different topics. Currently, the badges are private by default, but you can share out your achievements via +1, and compare your burgeoning expertise to other contacts and friends. Following the spread of Google+, Google is bringing introducing more social media features with the help of gamification. By allowing you to easily engage with and track your treks across the inter-webs, these badges encourage users to use Google News as their first stop in staying up-to-date.
Gamification Co will be hosting it’s second Gamification Summit in New York on September 15-16. Join keynotes from Gilt Groupe CEO Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and 42 Entertainment’s founder, Susan Bonds, to learn how the new science of engagement is rewriting the rules of product design. For Gamification Blog readers, use discount code GCOBLOG for 25% off at http://gsummit.com/register. We look forward to seeing you there!
