June 29, 2005

Coming Soon: Google Universe


It seems that the folks over at Google at quite literally ready to expand their (and our) horizons. Google's purchase of Keyhole Corp. last year signalled a definite shift in the strategies for online maps and directions. Directions were now given real (if somewhat outdated) spatial models based on Keyhole's satellite imagery.

Now, Google's ready to expand this service from Google Maps to Google Earth, whose website contains the following description:

Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips.

--Fly from space to your neighborhood. Type in an address and zoom right in.
--Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
--Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.
--Save and share your searches and favorites. Even add your own annotations.


Though it's more or less guaranteed that Google Earth will garner the same cult-like following that Google Maps did (click here for a good example of this fervor-- they even mention Google Earth), it'll be even more interesting to see how the capabilities of Google Earth, which combine terrain data and imagery and place them in a 3-D grid, are used and abused. Regardless, The Planet Earth is now a searchable, 3-D space. I see the potential here for a new kind of location aware fiction, one that, with the tweaks provided through a subscription to Google Earth Plus at $20/yr. (such as GPS integration, higher resolutions, drawing, writing and sketching annotations, KML annotation exchange, etc.), could use addresses and coordinates to not only frame specific neighborhoods, landmarks and buildings within their larger surroundings, but also use the depth of these places as further expositors of a narrative. The story may begin at the bottom of the Empire State Building, but it might also end at its peak.

Posted by marcusrp at June 29, 2005 1:57 PM | TrackBack
Comments



On google earth, would it be possible to up date the picture on the map, the one right now is from 2-3-4 years ago.



Posted by: Joey B at September 16, 2005 11:23 PM |

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As far as I know, Google purchases these images (or obtains them from Keyhole Corp., a company they purchased) but does so only after a certain period of time has elapsed. I think that there's many reasons _why_ Google wouldn't be able to have recent images, the most pertinent being issues of national security. So if you're looking for that new pool that just went in across the street from you, you're probably going to have to wait a few years to see it.



Posted by: marc at September 19, 2005 11:26 AM |

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Great work folks, the world was never this close.
I am from Malta, and have relatives in Australia, hope to see more details on these areas cause its great when we plan holidays.

Cheers guys



Posted by: Mark Xuereb at September 26, 2005 1:37 PM |

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Great work Google....my girls have used it for so many school projets.....one more time great job Google..


Jon



Posted by: jon at October 16, 2005 9:05 AM |

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I'm just saying, if the pictures were tookin four something years ago, it isn't really useful, if you're looking for directions to your friends house, and he moved between that time, here you are at a house that isn't owned by him or isn't even built yet. So im thinking its alittle more complex than a pool being installed, as marc said sometime ago.



Posted by: Joey B at December 10, 2005 6:00 PM |

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Not to offend anyone here, but Google Earth has many flaws that not a lot of people would normally catch. First, the pictures were takin sometime ago, as that Joey B guy said, I myself, would find it to be a great idea to update the pictures. Google Earth is a handy program, but it is nothing more than a little child's toy.



Posted by: Adam at December 10, 2005 6:07 PM |

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This was a marvelous ideat!! I hope you´ll keep up the good work and update too.
and a curious question:
have you tought about doing something similar with the solar system or galaxy??or the moon?:)

emily



Posted by: emily at December 20, 2005 3:47 PM |

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A friend of mine cued me into downloading google earth and I think it is great although it can use a little more detail. Are there plans for a google universe for outer space? That would be an awesome program to download so we can see the contents of the universe (galaxy, stars, black holes). Please, please do not hesitate to do something like this.



Posted by: Marcelo at December 29, 2005 5:24 PM |

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i think google earth rocks its realy cool i wish they would update the pictures more often it bites there are actuly peaple out there that can coause secrurity issues so that realy suckes and heres my freind Joel, Justin=)

HHHHHHI i`m Joel my frend Justin can be really anoing here oh well. Google team great job on the earth i hope to see more soon i would be glad to Help on the Universe. great job



Posted by: Joel and Justin at January 1, 2006 2:53 PM |

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even though i think google earth is the best can you make pictures clearer.



Posted by: cameron at January 7, 2006 11:46 AM |

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yEAH, Google Galaxy or Universe would rock! It would be totally out of this world!



Posted by: Robert Tenorio at February 1, 2006 11:22 PM |

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Hey I loved Google Earth the pictures are real clear and that has really helped me on my school projects.
Thanks Again,
John C.



Posted by: John C. at March 2, 2006 8:27 PM |

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