A Little Different: Google Sightseeing

I'm coming off a hectic week of dealing with some family medical issues, so instead of diving right into lean manufacturing and enterprise-related topics, I thought I'd share something a little different.  In fact, perhaps I'll broaden the focus of the blog a bit by creating an occasional series on "A Little Different."

We've written before about the potential of Google Earth, that free software that lets you access high-resolution satellite imagery and then zoom into any part of the planet.  The resolution can be pretty incredible, even giving you the ability to see individual people on streets.  I know of a couple of companies that use it for competitive intelligence by counting the number of cars in the parking lots of their competitors to gauge business activity.

A couple days ago I came across Google Sightseeing, a website with a tagline of "Why bother seeing the world for real?"  I guess it was only a matter of time.  Now you can visit all of those far-off natural wonders, zooming in from space.  Some pretty amazing photos of places like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Taj Mahal, Leaning Tower of Pisa... you get the picture.  Literally.

But there's another page on the site that tells me that some people have just a bit too much time on  their hands.  As they're zooming in from space they find objects and activities that just happened to be captured by the satellite cameras.  Some of which are, well, unusual.  And potentially embarrassing.  Take for example the series of images of rooftop sunbathers, some of whom obviously believed they could count on a bit more privacy.  Surprise!  But most are simply intriguing... the satellites happened to catch a mid-air refueling in action, crop circles, flocks of birds, strange sculptures... you name it.

Beware, it's addictive!       

Comments

[Scott Whitlock]

ok - you're right, very addictive....