28 August 2008

Google Earth helps get gold

Here's a Google fan that's a true winner. Kristin Armstrong, one of the Olympic competitors that helped the Untied States finish with 36 gold medals this year, has revealed how she used Google Earth to map out her Beijing cycling route using a GPS to record elevation that helped propel her into Olympic victory.

While training in China in December 2007, the athlete used her husband's GPS to capture the various points of elevation on the route before returning home to Idaho and using Google Earth to map it out. Tracing the course from home, Armstrong then used the information to track down a similar route closer to home on which she could train.

Not only did Google Earth help her view the course from above, but Armstrong further touts its high points, enthusing that "It was also very nice to be able to show family members and friends the course from the excellent satellite views presented by Google Earth."

So it's official: Google aids family bonding.

Joking aside, it's clear that Google's Maps and Earth tools have proved invaluable for many people, not least Olympic athletes who happened to need a map for their award-winning bike race. The less Olympian of us can still experience the full potential of Google Maps, combining requests for such establishments as hairdressers and eateries and discover how to get to these places in the simplest way possible.

And with Google's 3D mapping tool, Google StreetView, having completed over a year's tenure in the US, planning travel routes has become easier than ever.

The interactive manner and design of Google StreetView is perfect for getting directions as its 3D photography duplicates the sensation of standing there in the street yourself. This means that users - particularly drivers - can feel much more confident about travelling to places they're unfamiliar with.

The popularity of Google Earth - even before StreetView boosted it further - is a worldwide phenomenon and it's hardly difficult to see why. Google's innovative software usually works a treat, is simple to use and allows you to see parts of the world that would've been impossible otherwise.

Best of all, StreetView will be appearing in the UK soon. Several weeks ago, a Google StreetView car snapped photos of starstruck bigmouths whilst on its travels and, despite controversy over privacy issues, we here at bigmouthmedia are looking forward to it.

So not only does Google stop you getting lost but it helps win gold medals. Now, if only Google could find a way to make it sunny in the UK, we'd all be happy.

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