The world at your fingertips

Virtually, that is and through Google Earth.

Google Earth is the free virtual globe and a mapping, satellite photo, driving directions and local information program. All in all, it is the average geographer and tourist's dream.

Google Earth overlays satellite imagery, aerial photography and Geographic Information System (GIS) over a 3D model of the Earth.

However, 3D building models are currently only available for cities in the USA. Too bad for our readers, who were expecting to have a 3D preview of their future university or college in the USA, UK or Australia, while sitting at home in Bangladesh. But they should thank their lucky stars that they can at least view the terrain, vegetation, mountain peaks and other aspects of these areas.

Google merged the features of Google Maps with the capabilities of Keyhole, an already established mapping program in Google Earth in 2004. The mapping program was renamed Google Earth in 2005.

Users of Google Earth can view these images and also tons of data provided by Google and the internet community about the areas, at large.

Also, users can search for addresses (for the USA, Canada, and UK only), enter co-ordinates, or simply use the mouse to browse to a location. Users can therefore even imagine themselves to be like the virtual superman, flying over the cities and capable of landing at any specified location with ease.

Some large cities like Hong Kong, New York, Bombay, Chicago, Honolulu etc. are available in high resolution to see individual buildings, houses, cars and even bus stops. No, you cannot see people waiting for their buses at these stops.

Through digital terrain model data collected by NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, some of the best images of landmark monuments like the Grand Canyon, Statue of Liberty, Mount Everest etc can be viewed in 3D.

Many people using the applications are adding their own data on Google Earth. Some of these users are also making this information available through various sources such as BBS, blogs, personal sites etc.

But besides all of its plus points, authorities and governments of a number of nations have expressed their concern about the national security and privacy issues that can be hampered by Google Earth.

Government authorities of India, Australia and North Korea have already sounded their protests about the various ways through which the software is giving out free data about important government locations and facilities.

Also, mostly all cities and important areas or landmarks of the USA are found easily and efficiently. This is not the case with the countries in Europe, Asia, South America or other continents of the world.

But the final verdict from Techies are: 'Google Earth rocks!'

Some of them believe that the next version of the software should be updated with the important areas and landmarks of countries, whose data are not found in its current version.

This interesting software is currently free and available on personal computers running Microsoft Windows 2000, XP & Mac OS X Tiger. A Linux version release is expected, this year.