14 DAY TRIAL // Google has been making good use of the Hangouts feature in Google+. Not only has it been promoting it as a great way of getting together with friends, it's also enabling some interesting conversations between celebrities or important people and regular Google+ users.
Now it's taking the concept in another interesting direction, debates, by pitting a number of people on both sides of an idea or subject against each other. The idea is to have a healthy and productive conversation on important issues.
"Not only do Hangouts have the ability to connect people on opposite sides of the planet, they can also connect people on opposing sides of the social and political spectrum," Google explained.
"We’re delighted to announce that a new series of global debates, that will be live streamed on YouTube, will do exactly that," it announced.
"Versus, from Intelligence2—an organization committed to revitalizing the art of live debate—will give you the chance to question people who are close to the decisions being made on topical issues, on both sides of the debate," it added.
Of course, a healthy debate is one thing, but the interesting part is that people will be able to get involved, comment on the issue and even vote on their opinion.
The first "Versus" will focus on the topic "It's time to end the War on Drugs" and will have people on all sides of the issue, from Richard Branson and Julian Assange to former presidents of Brazil and Mexico.
Google+ Hangouts have already been used by a number of celebrities, but also by President Obama and people like the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The event will take place on March 13 and will be streamed live on YouTube to make sure as many people as possible can watch.
