Setting up and using GOOGLE EARTH
Today we had a brief look at Google Earth at the
end of the session. I use this website mainly for
fun, and sometimes to look at a possible holiday
destination, to see what the area looks like.
To download this free of charge, put the name Google
Earth into the Google search engine to find this
link to it ...
"earth.google.com"
Downloads - earth.google.com/download-earth.html
Explore Popular Places - earth.google.com/gallery/
Product Tour - earth.google.com/tour/
View 3D Buildings - earth.google.com/3d.html
On the right hand side of the home page, click on the
FAQ section to check out what the minimum/recommended
requirements are, so you can use Google Earth. Ideally
you need a fairly modern computer to access this, and a
Broadband internet connection (though I don't see this
requirement on the FAQ page).
Downloading any program onto your computer is a 2 stage
business ... the first part installs a .exe file onto your
hard drive (the usual place to save this is on "My Documents".
Once this process is finished, you can start the second half of
the installation by a double mouse click on the .exe icon, and
then click on the word "Run".
Before downloading any program onto your computer, set up a
RESTORE POINT, just in case the program were to mess up your
system, (when you can then restore your computer to an earlier
time).
(Start > Help and Support > "Undo changes to your computer
with System Restore")
You should end up with a purple and white coloured icon on your
Desktop, which you can click onto to start it up.
Before putting in a postcode in the top left section to search
say for your own home, move your mouse pointer to the top
right of the screen. You will now see various navigation controls
on display (set against the black sky background) ...
...Use the tilt slider (top of the controls) to tilt the terrain
toward a horizon view.
...Use the joystick (centre of the controls) to move the centre
point of the view down, up, right or left.
...Use the zoom slider to zoom in or out (+ to zoom in, - to zoom
out).
...Click and drag the navigation ring to rotate the view.
Have a play with all these.
Now put your postcode into the top left section, and click on the
lollipop icon alongside. Watch how GE will zoom into your home
area and when it stops, have a play with the navigation controls.
Now put NG1 3FN into the seach box to view the ICC on Mansfield
Road. Have a go at tilting the terrain to 45 degrees, and swinging
the whole photo of the ICC around, so you're looking at the ICC from
east to west. Next have a go at going north up Mansfield Road at
this 45 degree tilt, as if you're having a helicopter ride.
Now zoom out and using the Hand tool (click your mouse on the screen,
and drag the picture around) ... find Nottingham Castle and look
for a pale blue dot to click onto, to show you a photo of "Estatua
de Robin".
Have a look for these (and photos of the same) ...
Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty)
Windsor Castle (and a photo of St George's Cathedral)
The Vatican
Sydney Opera House
Scarborough South Bay
Enjoy. :)
