Team Geared Up

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - We know less about our oceans than we do about Space. Google are about to shift things a little and produce a consumer tool (a version of Google Earth) that lets you fly around the seabed, through canyons and over buried treasure.

Announcing Google Ocean:

The company has assembled an advisory group of oceanography experts, and in December invited researchers from institutions around the world to the Mountain View, Calif., Googleplex. There, they discussed plans for creating a 3D oceanographic map, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The tool–for now called Google Ocean, the sources say, though that name could change–is expected to be similar to other 3D online mapping applications. People will be able to see the underwater topography, called bathymetry; search for particular spots or attractions; and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning.

This is great news for the adventure & scientific communities. From being able to see the depth of channels for sail racing tactics or diving to knowing what’s under your kayak right now. Link this up to a GPS and actually find out what is under you without just a depth sounder.

Add in some multimedia, imagery, video and some educational material and you’ve got a serious educational tool. For example, watch this amazing video of an octopus vanish with camouflage (unreal!):

And if you want to see the full thing, it’s in a 5 min TED talk (worth watching) by David Gallo:

David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a shape-shifting cuttlefish, a pair of fighting squid, and a mesmerizing gallery of bioluminescent fish that light up the blackest depths of the ocean.

I’m looking froward to using this.

-Robin.