Sounds Bring Google Earth to Life

Strudelkugel writes "The BBC is reporting that a Californian company has created software that can layer relevant recorded sounds over locations in Google Earth. The firm, Wild Sanctuary, has thousands of hours of recordings from all over the world. Company director Dr. Krause has spent over 40 years collecting sounds from natural and man-made habitats. '... his recordings include more than 15,000 animal noises, and sounds from a huge array of habitats, including cities, deserts, mountains and the marine environment. It is the largest library in existence of natural sound, he said. He said the idea would be to zoom-in on a particular area and then have the option to listen to the accompanying sound.'"

Comments

do you hear that?

[LiquidMind]

the idea sounds nice on paper, but who will actually benefit from this?

Re:do you hear that?

[Itninja]

I don't know.... who ever thought that a six-year-old aerial photo of the desert would be practical? But now those Google Earth images are shown on the news as visual aids when they are talking about Iraq or some such. I can see this turning into the equivalent for radio news shows.

40 yrs of a life / 1 click / "that sucks" / CTRL-W

[mnemotronic]

To have worked for 40 years on something, to believe in it, and dedicate a life to it, to collect samples of sound, or smell, or taste from across an entire planet, then along comes a tool that makes it easy to share the results with other people, to disperse the cumulative knowledge and experience of a lifetime, only to have some bored slasher dis it off after a click and a couple seconds of listening; I'm hurt just thinking about it.

Boon for Children = Annoying for adults

[Kazrath]

America is undoubtedly the worst 1st world country when it comes to geography. We have no idea where most of our own states are, think Africa is a country and half the time don't even know what the next town down the road is named. A tool like this attached to Google Earth would help in keeping the interest of children. I think from this perspective it would be a very good teaching tool. One of the reasons I enjoyed History so much in High School was my teacher allowing me to play CivII. Adapting sounds/games into learning tools has been done and I believe it to be much more effective than text books. How many of you became quick multiplying numbers due to "Number munchers?". Entertainment for learning is the way to go.

Re:Boon for Children = Annoying for adults

[alexgieg]

It's interesting to note that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word "schole", meaning "leisure". The idea back then was simple, and all but forgot nowadays: that people only actually learn those subjects they're interested in.

If the school system was made such that, past the very basic knowledge needed for socially functioning, children were able to deepen only on that which they show interest and have talent, the whole experience would be way more rewarding for all those involved. If later in life someone developed interest in an intellectual matter he didn't care before, then, and only then, it's time for her to engage in learning it properly.

Normal modern day school is flawed because it tries to teach everyone everything. The result is almost everyone, except for those who do actually have interest in everything, feeling bored and unmotivated. Instead of leisure, school becomes work, and a hated one at that.

Please...

[msimm]

It's HIS interest. Hopefully if he's truly passionate about it he's got thick skin anyway. The story is about a company trying to sell sound, seems ripe enough for the odd joke. It's like smell-o-vision for the ears.

Re:40 yrs of a life / 1 click / "that sucks" / CTR

[ampathee]

It's not like he did it all to try to impress slashdotters.