LegendaryLife Blog

Coppell from 25 000 ft up!

For the past few months, I have been hearing lots of static regarding Google Earth, from meteorologists using it to highlight geographical features to ABC News using it to show how the war in Iraq is going. I never though much of it until I gave it a whirl yesterday. AMAZING!

What is it?

Google Earth is a software you can download that essentially allows you to zoom in on any area of the globe, it has the same power my 3D Studio Max has when I work on 3D animation but with a more intuitive interface for the lay person. Trying to find directions to a local sporting even? Stick it into Google Earth and you can zoom from outer space down to a street corner in only a few seconds. It is a really cool effect. You can also change perspectives, view additional information such as restaurants, streets, landmarks and much more.

What are the implications?

Google Earth is an amazing tool simply for its eye candy but even more so for what it offers above and beyond any other search engine. Want to find a local Flower Shop? Easy, I am sure they are working on an interface where you simply put in “flower shop� and based on your IP address, you will be able to zoom and physically see using satellite imagery the closest flower shop. But it gets even more powerful when you realize that once you have enough people using the system, that keyword now has intrinsic value. If you “pay� Google extra money in the future, maybe your location appears with additional options on the map, like an in store visit with a layout you can “walk through� for your online purchase, link to their website etc. It is like the yellow pages on steroids.

It goes beyond business applications…

One feature I love about Google Earth is the satellite imagery, it will only get better with time… maybe one day I will be able to wave out my front yard and on the Internet, see myself. Going for a camping trip or a vacation, overlaying weather on these maps can help improve your safety and sense of direction if you get lost. If they had realtime satellite imagery, Google Earth could be used for search and rescue operations, even help fighting a war (like the Pentagon is already doing). The applications are endless but notice how they all point back to Google… very smart business idea.

The Bottom Line

Knowledge is power, and Google Earth is by far the best application of its kind short of using DoD technology.