Friday, January 30, 2009

Technology is Cool

I found the “3D Buildings” and “Terrain” buttons in Google Earth that turn flat maps into pop-up books with photo-realistic imagery. Much omnipotent fun ensued.

I buzzed the Eiffel Tower. (Not as fun as climbing it).

I meandered through the Grand Canyon.

I spilled over Niagra Falls.

I climbed Everest.

I took a trip to the Vatican and knocked on the Pope’s door.

I slalomed Stonehenge.

I stood at the plate at Wrigley and called my shot.

Then I took off and went flying through New York City, zipping in between buildings.



































Speaking of flying, here is a time compression video of 24 hours of global air travel. You can see peak business hours, red eyes, hubs, great circles followed, etc. Heathrow looks like a vacuum. So cool.


8 comments:

M said...

North America is peeing on Europe!

Lindsey said...

Ooo, you should go check out the Palms in the UAE.

Christian said...

That's one of the first places I went. Crappy resolution and no 3D building!

Chris Wilson said...

This is porn for the new millenia.

Dangerous Lilly said...

WOW. How did I not know this exists? I'm gonna hafta go look for it now. I was all geeked out over the ability in certain areas to go "street level" and see actual photos...you just meander along the streets like you're really there. It was really cool.

Kelly said...

Very cool! Around the world without leaving your house!

Catastrophe Waitress said...

you had a busy day.
i had no idea that this feature existed -

i imagine this will add another fabulous dimension to how i stalk people.

Christian said...

I buzzed it first because my sister (at the top) lives there but it seems NYC is the only city so thoroughly mapped in 3D. No other city comes close.