Make Up Assignment

1. Article 1: “How Google Builds Its Maps—and What It Means for the Future of Everything”

This article discusses how GT (Ground Truth) technology works. Google uses satellite and ground imaging, using Google cars, to piece together their digital maps. Sometimes, they copy street signs from the Google car’s photographs and paste them into the map. Also, when new roads are constructed or rebuilt, the satellites and Google cars detect the changes, allowing map builders to edit the map.

Article 2: “Google maps: a decade of transforming the mapping landscape”

A decade ago people would use a website called multi map to find directions. The user would type in their desired destination and print out the step-by-step directions. Two Danish brothers teamed up with Google to create an online maps application, which would allow people to scroll, zoom and search. Google maps was officially launched on February 8, 2005. Larry and Sergey came up with an idea to attach a camera to the roof of a car, which lead to the creation of the Google car. In 2007 Google maps was featured as an application on the first-generation Apple iPhone.

Article 3: “Seven wonders of the world to explore on Google Street View”

Jonathan Steele’s team wore mapping cameras to document National Parks, National Trails and coastlines. Google creates virtual experiences for the online viewers, providing them with the opportunity to walk with wild animals in Kenya, climb 3,000 feet in Yosemite, take an evening stroll though Marseille and explore Liwa from a camel’s perspective.

2. I thought that reading about the evolution of Google and their mapping system was interesting and innovative. Google started out as a browsing site and has flourished rapidly over the past decade. I was not aware of Google’s incorporation of the 7 wonders of the world, so that was also interesting. I enjoyed reading these articles.

3. The cinematography from the “Explore Liwa with Google Maps” video looked very professional in comparison to some of the other videos.