The Possibilities of Google Earth in Virtual Reality
At Axonista HQ we recently kitted ourselves out with a super computer to power our Oculus Rift headset and new Oculus Touch controllers. Our lunchtimes are now filled with immersive VR style pictionary, reverting to our childhood with Toybox, and getting stuck into Robot Recall (- we quickly learnt to give the user at play a wide playing space!). But our favourite VR app by far, is the new Google Earth VR experience.
First released on the HTC Vive last November, Google Earth VR has now been updated to support the Oculus Rift headset with Oculus Touch controllers. It has left the entire Axonista team utterly stunned and completely mesmerised. The ability to fly over the world, with the simplicity to choose and explore any location in an immense 360 experience has left our minds buzzing in awe.
We think it’s interesting that on our first go, most of the team chose to fly straight home, rather than adventure far flung locations. It proved an effective way to sample the power of Google Earth VR. Through a place we know better than any other, we could quality assure the depth of experience Google Earth VR offers. An experience so sensory that one of our team got completely distracted and lost his way home!
Most of us found navigating around the world super easy. Firstly we were able search for locations by typing in the name and address of a place. Or we could jump around, like a superhero, by picking locations on the globe from space. While hop skipping about we discovered that Google Earth VR isn’t just looking at a location, like a nice picture. It’s about experiencing the space, height and breadth of buildings, lakes, mountains and trees, that you swear you can touch. The tours on offer are pretty spectacular and cinematic too. We were enthralled by the detail in locations like the Amazon River, the Manhattan Skyline and the Grand Canyon.
The introduction of Google Earth to Oculus has left us pondering what the future of Google Earth might be. Here are some of our thoughts on its implications for immersive entertainment, content discovery and education.
1. Content Discovery
Google Earth could be used as tool for navigating video content. For example, clips, documentaries, films & tv shows could be attached to context relevant locations. So if a viewer wanted to see something on Madagascar, they could navigate to Madagascar and see what video content is available to watch there. Google Earth VR could partner with local broadcasters or digital services like Netflix, and Amazon Prime. This is something Google Earth might already have in store. BBC Worldwide has announced a partnership to make content from Life Story, Africa and Planet Earth II available on the Google Earth VR platform.
2. Context Rich History Lessons
What if, with Google Earth VR you could go back in time?! Imagine walking the streets of 1920’s New York? Or Victorian London? It could be a powerful and engaging tool for education. History class would never be the same!
2. Education on Climate Change
Imagine if with Google Earth VR users could learn about the impact of climate change. Users could travel to glaciers or to the Great Barrier Reef, and experience first hand the environmental damage of global warming.
VR, in general, has the potential to be more than just a thing for millennials to enjoy. Google Earth could offer experiences to those that are elderly, unwell or disabled. For those that can’t leave their house Google Earth VR could allow them explore and tour exotic locations they might not, in reality be able to visit.
The possibilities are truly inspirational and mind boggling!
Lorna Buttimer is Product Researcher at Axonista, and when she’s not lost in VR, she can be found shaping the future of interactive video with the Axonista team, based in Dublin, Ireland, and now New York!
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