These days, who hasn't made use of Google Maps?

Google Earth has become an indispensable tool for smartphone navigation. It is powered by Google Maps and could arguably be described as a killer app that makes modern life a whole lot more convenient. What fewer people realize is that Google Maps' Street View is handy for research, walking trips, and has even become an important social media platform.

It is a convenient way to leave reviews for local businesses, which raises an interesting question. Just how much of the world has Google mapped in this way for Google Street View and Google Earth?

The answer might surprise you

According to a report the company recently published, Google has photographed more than 10 million miles of Street View imagery and more than 36 million square miles of Google Earth imagery. Of those two figures, the Google Earth figure is the most impressive and based on the particulars in the report, Google claims to have photographed more than 98 percent of places on the planet where people live.

The Street View figure is no slouch, however. It runs far ahead of Google's nearest competitor Apple, which has begun a similar project. It is millions of miles behind Google. Even if you don't make regular use of either service, it's clear just based on the scope and scale of the company's accomplishments in both of these areas, how seriously the company takes it.

Our perspective

More and more, imagery is taking center stage on the world wide web.  We're a long way from being able to declare that text is no longer the King of the web, but the imagery is increasingly important.  If you aren't already doing so, next time you have a minute, try doing a Google Earth search to get a sense of how far things have come and prepare to be impressed.

~ As Hill Street Blues' Sgt. Esterhaus always advised: "Hey, let's be careful out there! " ~

 

Meanwhile, check out this report

This free executive report may give you insights into how to build your business with safe IT environments: 10 Hidden IT Risks That Might Threaten Your Business and 1 Easy Way to Find Them

The author

Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Cybersecurity Expert, Small Business Technology Consultant, Managed Services Provider, Managed IT SupportI am Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. I help professionals grow their business by building a foundation of rock-solid information solutions for smaller healthcare, insurance, financial, legal, and nonprofits firms in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. And have created cost-effective IT solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with a variety of organizations, as well as providing small business technology education programs through business and professional associations. This just in: I will be speaking regularly at California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership starting in September.

Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association.