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Industry Trends

Is Google Ocean Next?

By January 28, 2009July 30th, 2023One Comment

Google, it would seem, has already conquered the earth and the sky with Google Earth and Google Sky. What remains to be conquered is the ocean. If rumors are to be believed this may happen very soon.

On the 2nd of February, Google Earth is holding an event at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. What is particularly interesting is the fact that there happens to be a Planetarium, a Natural History Museum and a miniature Rainforest within the academy’s campus.

Another noteworthy feature about this gathering, as reported by Cnet is the fact that both Chief Executive, Eric Schmidt and Vice President of Search products and User Experience, Marissa Mayer will be present for the event alongside former US Vice President, Al Gore, who will be one of the speakers.

Suffice it to say that with all these heavy weights in attendance, it has to be a very special occasion. The invites say that it is “the next big step in the evolution of Google Earth”.

The presence of Sylvia Earle at the event is an indication that the occasion may be for the unveiling of Google Ocean. Sylvia Earle is the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration. She also founded Deep Ocean Exploration And Research. Currently she is an Explore-in-residence with the National Geographic Society.

Reports that Google was working on mapping the world below sea-level had surfaced back in April 2008. Almost a year later, the product seems ready to unveil, making critics claim that even though the worldwide economy is in recession, Google is not losing its “cool” factor!

It is believed that Google Ocean will provide underwater topography in 3D. Users will also be able to search for points of interest such as sites of ship wrecks etc. Some amount of underwater photography is also likely to be included, though not too much as it is an expensive and time consuming procedure. Navigating the digital environment by panning and zooming will also be possible.