Google Earth re-invented for new era

Google on Tuesday launched a re-imagined version of its free Earth mapping service, weaving in storytelling and artificial intelligence and freeing it from apps, reports AFP from San Francisco. "This is our gift to the world," Google Earth director Rebecca Moore said while giving AFP an early look at the new version of the program that lets people range the planet from the comfort of their computers, smartphones or tablets.
"It's a product that speaks to our deepest values around education and making information available to people." A new 'Voyager' feature enables people digitally exploring the planet to be guided on interactive stories told by experts, boasting partners including BBC Earth, NASA, Sesame Street, and the Jane Goodall Institute. Google artificial intelligence will be put to work for Earth users in the form of "knowledge cards" that let them dive deeper into online information about mountains, countries, landmarks or other places being virtually visited.
It will also make suggestions on other locations armchair explorers might be interested in exploring based on what they have searched in the past. "This is the first time we have done this deep integration with the Google Knowledge Graph," Earth engineering manager Sean Askay said. "Everything Google knows about the world, you can know about the world."

 

Google Earth re-invented for new era

Google on Tuesday launched a re-imagined version of its free Earth mapping service, weaving in storytelling and artificial intelligence and freeing it from apps, reports AFP from San Francisco. This is our gift to the world, Google Earth director Rebecca Moore said while giving AFP an early look at the new version of the program that lets people range the planet from the comfort of their computers, smartphones or tablets. Its a product that speaks to our deepest values around education and making information available to people. A new Voyager feature enables people digitally exploring the planet to be guided on interactive stories told by experts, boasting partners including BBC Earth, NASA, Sesame Street, and the Jane Goodall Institute. Google artificial intelligence will be put to work for Earth users in the form of knowledge cards that let them dive deeper into online information about mountains, countries, landmarks or other places being virtually visited. It will also make suggestions on other locations armchair explorers might be interested in exploring based on what they have searched in the past. This is the first time we have done this deep integration with the Google Knowledge Graph, Earth engineering manager Sean Askay said. Everything Google knows about the world, you can know about the world.