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Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

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Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#101

Post by lotsofpulp »

ajmurmann wrote: post #92
ditegashi wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we REALLY understood it then maybe we would stop doing it. My bet is that we don't really get it.

Because individual motivation and macro-behavior aren't necessity aligned, individual understanding might not be enough to changes behavior of the system as a whole. Maybe individual bacteria understand the impact they might have on a host system and are concerned about outcomes as well. I sometimes think that it is a valid mental model to think of us as not much different from ants in a hive who think they possess m…

> I sometimes think that it is a valid mental model to think of us as not much different from ants in a hive who think they possess more control and freedom than they do

I think it is the opposite. We are different from ants, and have a lot of control and freedom, so we know that if others will not make the sacrifice, why should we?

In an ant colony, I imagine the orders are being given top down and they do not think about what others are or are not sacrificing.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#102

Post by lwhi »

gpspake wrote: post #52
Impossible wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has bailed on VR apps (for the most part, Owlchemy is still there), so I imagine not. It'd be cool if Google Earth VR was opensource like Tiltbrush. Like Tiltbrush it was one of the foundational early VR apps that people demoed, it's fun to imagine a world where Google continued to put money into VR, but I'm actually not sure how that fits into their business outside of just another platform for Android.

It's a shame. Google Earth on VR is probably the most amazing and practical use for VR for normal people at the moment. I like to street-view in to other countries and stand in the middle of crowded places with people around me imagining that it's a thousand years from now and humanity is gone and it's the documentation of life on earth. I've had good times passing the headset around in a room full of people to share…

I also love it in VR. Will this be rolled out as a VR update?

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#103

Post by jamespwilliams »

izolate wrote: post #9

Most striking to me is that Google registered a custom TLD (.gle) just to use as a URL shortener. Impressive use of funds.

In theory Google could serve their URL shortening service on the root of their .google TLD (links like https://google/xyz123).

Would probably break some apps which don’t correctly handle TLD-only domain names though, I suppose.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#104

Post by Waterluvian »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

We conquer topography, yes, but it's economical to follow it.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#105

Post by mullingitover »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

I think of humans as a form of fire uniquely cursed with the ability to see the beauty in what it's burning, and to feel bad about it.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#106

Post by detritus »

I want to love this, but the interface is too opaque.

How on GoogleEarth do I get back the timeline option that I've somehow closed?

I'm probably being an idiot, but I'm not a total idiot, and it's not at all clear to me how I access the timeline now.

The "I'm feeling lucky" icon is WAY too prominent. A misclick there quickly screws whatever it was I was just looking at.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#107

Post by dudeman13 »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

That's some oddly specific characteristic to use to counter the value of being special, having conquered environments, technology and more.

Why would the traditional mathematics of growth make all that less?

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#108

Post by jdkee »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

I think the growth of humanity contains much more complexity than that of a slime mold to be honest. Uncountably so.

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#109

Post by frereubu »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

I’ve always been fond of Bill Hicks’ description of humanity as “a virus with shoes.”

Re: Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years

#110

Post by marc__1 »

keithwhor wrote: post #61

What's really striking to me about timelapse videos of the Earth is how, at a grand enough scale, the growth of human settlements on Earth really looks no different than the growth of bacterial and fungal colonies on Petri dishes. We think of ourself as special, as having conquered environments, technology and more - and when zoomed out you could explain everything we've built and accomplished as the achievements of…

in this case you should definitely read Vaclav Smil book Growth.

It covers how similar growth patterns can be identified, from cities, vegetation, motors and human life.

It is a long book, but recommended by none other than gates [1]

[1] https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Growth

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