Google Earth 3D Buildings
It’s weird to think about, but it wasn’t too long ago that people actually had to drag a gigantic, overweight, clunky atlas out when they wanted to plan a long trip. My parents make it sound like they were the navigators for Christopher Columbus’ maiden voyage to the new world when they describe the experience. “You and your online maps. Hogwash. When we wanted to go somewhere, we had to chart it, with only Rand-McNally’s atlas and the stars as our guide.”
Yes, they actually said “Hogwash.”
In any case, with the advent of navigational software and cell-phone technology, it’s possible to hold the entire world in your hand. And check this out:
Google Earth’s latest update textures the world’s cities with photo-realistic 3D buildings. It’s really cool—you can fly between the skyscrapers of New York City or Chicago like Superman (too bad Metropolis is only in the comic-books). It’s a free download, and if you don’t have Google Earth already, you should get it. It’s an amazing tool, and excellent for frittering time away and learning stuff at the same time.
