Google Earth: Planetary Phenomenon
From its exit in August 2005, Google Earth became a true phenomenon. The receipt of its success? A brilliant concept (even if it is not new as we will see it) and an impeccable technical realization. The goal of the software? To provide an urban and geographical guide total, based on a representation 3d detailed and realistic of the Earth. In theory, Google Earth makes it possible to seek imports what on our beautiful planet: a pizzeria, a historic building, a route of its hotel to the cinema nearest. The software posts a level of detail such as one can even have access to a modeling 3d (simple) of the buildings over the detailed satellite images, themselves and taking account of the relief. Sum colossal of information is diffused in "streaming" since Internet (even if the images satellite can go back to a few years), in short, Google Earth is a mine of information on our planet, constantly updated.
In practice, unfortunately, all that relates to currently only the United States: the buildings are reserved for 38 cities American and only some European cities have a level of high detail and information practical. Would Google Earth be thus a simple gadget with the interest limited for the remainder of planet? Certainly not! The force of the software is indeed to make it possible to the Net surfers to add their own information. Simple "bug" on the sphere with modeling 3d of a monument or a building, it is thus possible to personalize Google Earth with its own way and to benefit from innumerable information brought by a very active community.
Earth with range of mouse: To discover Google Earth
Let us start with the beginning, namely the remote loading of the software. Google Earth exists in several versions. The paying versions propose additional functionalities like the possibility of adding buildings in 3d or functions related to the GPS, but the free version is obviously sufficient to explore the Earth under all its seams. Google Earth is available under Windows and Mac OS X (10.3 minimum)
Before launching us to the research of the villa of Zidane or desert of Tatooine, we with the interface of the software, broken up into three parts familiarize already:
- The principal window.
- The panel of navigation.
- The side panel.
Navigation in Google Earth can be made several manners. Most intuitive is "to handle" the ground with the mouse, a method which uses all the buttons.
- The left button enables you "to catch" the terrestrial sphere and to turn it in all the directions.
- The right button allows zoomer ahead or behind, but it is much more practical to carry out this handling with the serrated roller of the mouse which lends itself to it to wonder.
- Lastly, the central button makes it possible to modify the slope and to swivel of left on the right.
Short cuts keyboard are also available:
- + and - for zoomer ahead and behind.
- Pg Up and Pg Down to modify the slope.
Lastly, you can use the panel of navigation which gathers the same functions:
- Central paving stone to turn around the sphere.
- The buttons left and right-hand side to carry out a rotation on the left or on the right.
- The small rule of left for zoomer ahead and behind.
- The small rule of right-hand side to modify the slope.
Let us note then the presence of three buttons in bottom on the right of the interface to print a sight, to send it by electronic mail, or to add information in the form of a simple marker, a superimposed image or a modeling in 3d (this last option being reserved for Google Earth Plus, paying). We will reconsider this function later.
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