Kid connection

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Google Inc., a company synonymous with searching the Internet, hopes to define far more of the world’s computing experience with a helping hand from schoolchildren.

For several months, it has been giving away to all takers an online word processor, spreadsheet and other programs that can perform tasks usually handled by desktop software. Offering a convenience that worries some privacy experts, the programs automatically store everything in Google’s vast data centers so the information can be retrieved on any Internet-connected computer.

As it tries to usher in a new era in computing, Google is promoting its software applications in kindergarten through high school classrooms, where kids who have grown up with the Web are more likely to experiment with different technology.

“It’s the perfect place for them to target the next generation of computer users,” said James McQuivey, a former Forrester Research analyst who is now a Boston University professor specializing in technology and communications.

The free-software approach poses a challenge to Microsoft Corp., whose success revolves around sales of its long-dominant Windows operating system and Office suite. The programs — including Word and Excel — are installed on hard drives and information is usually stored locally as well.

Google views its educational initiative as a public service for teachers who often lack the money and expertise to introduce more technological tools into their classrooms. The company doesn’t allow advertising in its word processing and spreadsheets programs, leaving it unclear how Google expects to make money.

“We think it’s good to get people familiar with the other things we do (besides search), but it’s not like we are trying to get some kind of lifetime value out of each student,” said Cristin Frodella, a Google product manager overseeing the education project.

Google is trying to engage the teachers first.

In October, the company posted an online guide to provide instructors with ideas on how to incorporate the applications into their curricula. In November, Google invited about 50 Northern California teachers to spend the day at its Mountain View headquarters to learn more about the advantages of the program.

Google plans to host similar programs in other parts of the country as it tries to recruit more teachers to proselytize its online software.

Palo Alto High School junior Danielle Kim said the software’s flexibility was particularly helpful when her debate team jointly worked on a presentation earlier this year. But she also saw a downside to Google’s approach. “It requires you to have Internet access,” she said. “What happens when you are in a place that doesn’t?”

Google expects that issue to become less of a problem as high-speed Internet connections become commonplace.