Recently I’ve found myself using Google Earth [1] to see what various things look like from space. This can be quite intriguing, it is often interesting to see what certain walking paths look like from space, and things that are quite big from my grounded perspective often look much more insignificant from space.
For example, here is a picture of Telstra Tower taken from a Hot Air Balloon:
[2]
And here it is from space:
[3]
This is all quite fascinating, but it also has problems, I personally find it a bit disturbing that I am able to get a picture of a New York intersection like this:
[4]
That is about as far as I can zoom in before the picture becomes pixelated, and it is much closer than I can zoom in on cities outside of the US, in fact, here in Canberra, this picture of Dickson College is about as close as I can get without pixelation:
[5]
These pictures can be quite useful and interesting, but I think that, for the general public, satellite photos that can zoom in on an intersection with pretty good clarity are a bit over the top.
Samuel
Comments Disabled To "Google Earth"
#1 Comment By John B1_B5 On September 21, 2005 @ 2:55 pm
You’re not the only one Samuel . A number of people are concerned about that ! ( I’m still thinking about whether it’s a useful device for checking out the approaches to shopping centres, etc., or whether it constitutes a threat to one’s privacy ).
#2 Comment By Samuel On September 21, 2005 @ 3:17 pm
Considering that it’s not even remotely up to date in some cases it would be no good at checking traffic, of course you could see what roads are wide and nearby.
I can’t see a huge threat to privacy (You would need a stupendously big sign for it to be readable), but I can see risks involved in the semi detailed view you get of major infrastructure, actually I seem to recall that being in the news about a month ago…can’t remember what happened, not much I suspect.
#3 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 22, 2005 @ 1:43 pm
can you take a pic of QBNFM?
#4 Comment By Samuel On September 22, 2005 @ 3:35 pm
I probably could, might get a satellite picture of 2cc too.
Incidentally tequilasunrise0002, I couldn’t find the bagpipe music show on the QBNFM schedule…when are you next on?
#5 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 22, 2005 @ 3:44 pm
Eveny 4th wednesday. Can you put a photo of your house on too??
#6 Comment By Samuel On September 22, 2005 @ 4:13 pm
No!
#7 Comment By Samuel On September 22, 2005 @ 4:16 pm
Hmmmm, has the schedule changed tequilasunrise0002?
This what what you wrote on Friday 16 September at 8:48pm
“too bad, Im on 4pm – 9pm every third wednesday. After the bagpipe music show.”
I wonder…
#8 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 22, 2005 @ 4:25 pm
the Harry the PD changed at line up. Bloody Harry
#9 Comment By Samuel On September 22, 2005 @ 5:04 pm
Rightio, I just got off the phone with QBNFM. The program director is NOT named Harry. There is NO bagpipe music show, and the schedule does not change in the way you mention.
None the less, QBNFM report that they have had a few queries about you, and were mildly amused by it.
#10 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 22, 2005 @ 5:41 pm
Did I say QBNFM, i ment 104.7
#11 Comment By Samuel On September 22, 2005 @ 7:01 pm
If you’re just going to continue making stupid comments, then go away.
#12 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 23, 2005 @ 10:14 am
But thats what you do
#13 Comment By Samuel On September 23, 2005 @ 10:56 am
Perhaps, but the difference is that this is my website and therefore I decide which comments are stupid…and so far I’m awarding that title to you.
#14 Comment By Docka On September 23, 2005 @ 11:27 am
Yeah it’s your website but you’ve made it available to the genereal public. Therefore you’re leaving yourself open to the decisions of the public – and trust me, I speak for everyone when I say you’re in no position to call anyone elses comments stupid. Read your own blog – you’ll see what I mean.
#15 Comment By Samuel On September 23, 2005 @ 12:14 pm
I’m sure you find this all highly amusing tequilasunrise0002/Docka, but you posted both comments from the same IP address, 61.9.204.75
#16 Comment By tequilasunrise0002 On September 23, 2005 @ 12:35 pm
impossible
#17 Comment By Docka On September 23, 2005 @ 12:35 pm
Congratulations Genius, you worked out that at least one other person from this uni thinks you’re an idiot too!
Well done!
That’s alot of effort to go to though…10 points!
#18 Comment By Samuel On September 23, 2005 @ 12:46 pm
Alrighty then, now that you have me interested, I have two questions for both of you.
1. What is it that you both dislike about me?
2. What do you think would make this site better?
#19 Comment By RichardGregoryWhite On September 23, 2005 @ 2:59 pm
Hello Samuel,
Dont worry about those two. i think your site is way fab and you seem like a very intellectual, well adjusted person. I stumbled across this site as i myself enjoy gazing at the world through the eyes of google earth. I was quite fascinated by your pictures and comments. I really had quite a chuckle at your amusing antics. Anyway, i think you are a lot like me. We really would make quite the pair you and i ha ha. Congrats on the site and keep up the good work.
As for you Docka, you need to take a good long look at yourself. You certainly don’t speak for me. I speak for me. And i think i speak for Samuel when i say that if you cant stand the heat, get out of Samuels kitchen.
#20 Comment By Samuel On September 23, 2005 @ 4:18 pm
Ahhhh yes, the vat of boiling oil is to your left Docka & tequilasunrise0002…of course it is cheaper for me if you just turn around and walk out the door…although I am getting the impression that you may have already done so.
Thankyou for the nice comments RichardGregoryWhite, I’m glad you enjoyed reading the various bits of the site, it is nice to know there are still some sane people in this world.
#21 Comment By RichardGregoryWhite On September 23, 2005 @ 9:24 pm
i have a rash
#22 Comment By Samuel On September 23, 2005 @ 10:05 pm
uh huh….that’s just fascinating….do I want to know how you got the rash or is that just going to reveal uneeded details?
#23 Comment By eebl On October 7, 2005 @ 7:28 pm
Wait, what?