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| Current (30 day) Arctic Sea Ice Concentrations and Extents.Photograph © Google |
| "It is said that India would launch its own version of Google Earth, with blurred images of sensitive areas in the countries. Why not ban all Lonely Planet, Routard and Itchy Feet guides while they are at it?" |
Words by Zarina Holmes I got my iPhone 3G as a Christmas present for myself because of Google Earth. Alain Rousseau, a French chauffeur who picked me up from Charles de Gaulle airport for a press assignment last year, sold me on it. Mr. Rousseau was a handsome middle-aged man, eloquent and quite apologetic of his charming accent. He let me played with his iPhone 3G in the back seat while we were stuck in the Parisian morning rush hour. I have always owned a world atlas ever since I could speak. So it was like an epiphany to see Google Earth pin-pointing our exact location for the first time. Google Maps is very useful for Rousseau's job as a driver. He couldn't recommend it enough for a traveller like me. I asked him about his previous occupation. "I was serving the French military for many years, specialising in cartography and aerial surveillance," he replied with a chuckle. Recently, Google Earth has gained a somewhat subversive status. It was partially blamed by the Indian government for the Mumbai terrorist attacks. It is said that India would launch its own version of Google Earth, with blurred images of sensitive areas in the countries. Why not ban all Lonely Planet, Routard and Itchy Feet guides while they are at it? I love maps, any maps. They fuelled my childhood weekends as a Girl Scout. Pre-Playstation, nothing beats a bobbing compass needle. Back then all we needed were a map and a compass to get ourselves lost for hours. We didn't have mobile phones to cheat. Fun! Thankfully, the geographical community can see the benefits of shared awareness using virtual satellite maps. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has announced the advent of Ocean on Google Earth, with a featured map layer showing, for example, where in the world some of the most sustainably-sourced fish come from.
| "...We will really have nothing to hide. Despite that, I don’t think our planet has become less mysterious." |
MCS is "excited by the sheer potential of Ocean on Google Earth. Its new features will help bring the ocean to life in homes, businesses and classrooms in a more visual form than ever before." We hope to see more collaboration between Google Earth and environmental conservation programmes. Now we can check out the most polluted and environmentally fragile regions on Earth, so we can do something about it. Then we will really have nothing to hide. Despite that, I don’t think our planet has become less mysterious. I don't rely on Google Maps all the time. In fact, I still prefer my dog-eared London A-Z to find places. I make it a habit to memorize maps at the tube stations. Sometimes it's nice to be lost a little and use your imagination to find your way. |
