Google brings cool to the RNC

TAMPA - Tucked off to one side in the truly massive media presence at the Tampa Convention Center, the people at Google offer media types an oasis of sorts.

A walk around the convention center presents the eyes with row after row of tables filled with thousands of computers and monitors.

None of it is pretty.

Google did things a little differently, offering journalists a brightly lit and colorful space where they can come up for a little air.

"You are in the Google filing center.  We are excited to be the official live-stream provider and network platform for the Republican National Convention," said Google Spokeswoman Samantha Smith.

Google appears to be nonpartisan. They will do the same thing at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte next week.

The space is what you'd expect from the Internet giant:  Comfortable chairs that are very round, free coffee, charging outlets for your smartphone and laptop. And of course, free WiFi.

Just off-center in the Google space is a TV studio surrounded by glass.  The Google+, YouTube venture is pumping interactive streaming video.  Media partners including The Washington Post, New York Times, NBC and others offer up experts to chat with viewers via their Google+ accounts.

At the moment of this writing, media observer and critic Howard Kurtz is talking it up.

In stark contrast, right next door is a dimly lit room with about 300 workspace settings for journalists and others from the media. It's utilitarian and approaches downright dreary.

The Google filing center provides a noticeable lift.

"It's designed so you can keep on going," Smith said.