Google Earth Virtual Reality

Visit anywhere in the world with the click of a button

Within the past year, the latest trend in technology has been virtual reality headsets. Now you may be wondering what exactly a VR headset is. According to an article published by Yahoo, "is a device that you wear over your eyes like a pair of goggles. It blocks out all external light and shows you an image on high-definition screens in front of your eyes. The goal of the VR headset is to immerse you in a game. In VR games, your point of view is your character’s point of view; most VR headsets track your head movement, so that wherever you look, your character looks, too. If done well, you’ll feel like you are inside the game" (Gilbert 2014).

Recently, Google has come out with their own VR headset that is designed specifically for Google Earth. This new VR headset allows you to visit anywhere in the world as long as you know the address and or name of the location you are wanting to visit. The picture shown below is one of the destinations that you can visit within virtual reality.

I personally do not see the value nor the appeal of purchasing such an item. For one, I love the travel and see different locations in person. While the idea of being able to see any location anywhere in the world while being in the comfort of your own home sounds appealing, it is still just a cheap imitation of the actual beautiful locations. I want to be able to feel and touch these locations instead of just viewing them from another thing. Another reason why I would not purchase this item is the fact that it will take you to a location if you type in an address. I do not take pleasure in the fact that any random person from anywhere in the world can type in my address be able to view my house where I live with my family. 

Google+

Still Hanging On

Courtesy of Mashable

Many people consider Google+ to be a butt end of jokes in terms of Social Media. The majority of people consider it to be a failure and completely unnecessary. However, what many people don't realize is that Google+ is still going strong and has a huge following.  In an article from the website, Mashable, it identifies the groups that use Google+ the most, and how Google is also attempting to gain more attention by creating and adding new features to this social media platform

There are many different online communities that help keep Google+ running. One of these online communities is the photography community. "The Landscape Photography Community, more than a million members strong, remains one of the most engaged communities on Google+, according to the company."  There are also large communities online that are specifically "devoted to more mainstream aspects of popular culture, like Harry Potter fandom, or Pokémon devotees and One Directioners. " 

Like the majority of people, I believe that Google+ is very low on the totem pole as far as social media networks go. Mostly because of the dominance of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. When Google+ came on to the scene, it was after Facebook had been the main dominate force in social media networks for a few years and still is to this day. Unless Google+ makes some major changes in to make it more appealing towards people, I believe that within the next few years Google+ will eventually fade out of existent.