Swim All Over the Coral Reef at Home with the Google Underwater Explorer
Elise Ying-Hei Ho — September 26, 2012 — Tech
References: maps.google & ufunk.net
The Google underwater street view is one of the new functions the search giant has added to its Google Maps library.
With the help of The Catlin Seaview Survey, images of various underwater sites have been uploaded to Google Maps to allow users to search and explore places they've never visited. So far, the Google library only holds a few deep sea locations such as Wilson Island, The Great Barrier Reef, Apo Island, Heron Island, Oahu Hawaii and Maui Hawaii.
The beautiful waters are exceptionally captured and makes users envious that they cannot be there immediately. While "swimming" underwater, viewers can see "a sea turtle swimming among a school of fish, follow a manta ray, and experience the reef at sunset." For the time being, this new application serves more of an educational and exploration purpose than a navigation one.
With the help of The Catlin Seaview Survey, images of various underwater sites have been uploaded to Google Maps to allow users to search and explore places they've never visited. So far, the Google library only holds a few deep sea locations such as Wilson Island, The Great Barrier Reef, Apo Island, Heron Island, Oahu Hawaii and Maui Hawaii.
The beautiful waters are exceptionally captured and makes users envious that they cannot be there immediately. While "swimming" underwater, viewers can see "a sea turtle swimming among a school of fish, follow a manta ray, and experience the reef at sunset." For the time being, this new application serves more of an educational and exploration purpose than a navigation one.
Trend Themes
1. Underwater Exploration - A trend in using technology to provide virtual underwater exploration experiences, like Google's underwater street view, is disrupting traditional methods of exploring the ocean.
2. Virtual Tourism - The integration of underwater sites into Google Maps is part of a larger trend in virtual tourism, which allows users to explore locations they may not have the opportunity to visit in person.
3. Educational Applications - The Google underwater street view serves as an educational tool, demonstrating the potential for virtual reality to enhance learning experiences and make inaccessible places accessible to a wider audience.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - The integration of underwater exploration technologies into platforms like Google Maps presents disruption opportunities in the technology industry, particularly for companies specializing in virtual reality and immersive experiences.
2. Tourism - The rise of virtual tourism has the potential to disrupt traditional tourism industry models, as consumers can now have virtual experiences that rival the real thing, impacting various sectors within the tourism industry such as travel agencies and destination marketing organizations.
3. Education - The use of virtual reality for educational purposes, as demonstrated by the Google underwater street view, opens up new possibilities in the education industry, creating opportunities for e-learning platforms, virtual field trips, and interactive educational content.
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