This talk from November, 2012 discusses some surprising initiatives and accomplishments from Google with links to YouTube videos. Contact the author at gregwilde@gmail.com.

1. Google Next
Some of Google's Initiatives
New Orleans Personal Computer Club
Greg Wilde and Greg Speyrer
November 7. 2012

2. Google Earth
• New 3D imagery for Google Earth
“Since 2006, we've had textured 3D buildings in Google Earth, and
we're excited to announce that we'll begin adding 3D models to entire
metropolitan areas to Google Earth in the near future. Thanks to new
imagery rendering techniques and computer vision, we're able to create
3D cityscapes, complete with buildings, terrain and even landscaping,
from 45-degree aerial imagery. By the end of the year, we aim to have
3D coverage for metropolitan areas with a combined population of 300
million people”
• Your world in 3D - Create 3D models using Google SketchUp and
add them to the 3D Buildings layer in Google Earth.

3. Google Earth
• Oceans, etc. With Google Earth 5.0, you can now travel
back in time to see historical imagery, dive below the
surface of the ocean and record a tour of your journeys.
Download at http://earth.google.com
• Moon in Google Earth Land on the Moon in Google
Earth. With Moon in Google Earth, you can take tours
narrated by Apollo astronauts, view 3D models of
landed spacecraft, zoom into 360-degree photos, and
watch rare TV footage of the Apollo missions.

4. Earth
• Discover Ancient Rome in Google Earth See
Rome as it looked in 320 AD and fly down to see
famous buildings and monuments in 3D. Select
the "Ancient Rome 3D" layer under Gallery in
Google Earth.

5. Maps
• Mapping the Motor City with Google Maps
“Learn how the Michigan Trails and Greenways
Alliance uses Google Map Maker to add new
cycling routes around the city of Detroit, creating
a more comprehensive map and improving biking
directions for the entire community.”
• 3D Maps go to 43:45 on timeline

6. Knowledge Graph
• The Knowledge Graph is a huge collection of the
people, places and things in the world and how
they're connected to one another. With this
technology, Google can get you the best possible
answers and help jump start your discovery.

7. Google Wallet
• Make Your Phone Your Wallet - With the
Google Wallet mobile app, and how you can pay
in-store by tapping your phone anywhere
contactless NFC payments are accepted.

8. Google+
• Google+ Events This feature helps you get
together with others by collecting and sharing
both information before and memories after these
occasions, even Hangouts. The Google+ Event
details page also displays comments, who's
going, and any photos from the event.

9. Nexus 10 Reference Tablet
• The Nexus 10 comes courtesy of Samsung. At
$399 it arrives with less fanfare and a higher
price, but it also comes with a very distinctive
selling point: a stratospherically high resolution.
This 10.1-inch panel has an eye-watering 2,560 x
1,600 resolution -- the very same as the 13-inch
MacBook Pro with Retina display but in a much
smaller package

10. Google Chrome
• Chrome browser story - Dallas Clayton uses the
web to share the inspiring book he wrote for his
son with people all over the world.

11. Chromebooks
• Chromebooks “…are built and optimized for the
web, so you get a faster, simpler and more secure
experience without all the headaches of ordinary
computers. Google's newest Chromebook, made
by Samsung, only costs $249 and offers the same
general performance of ChromeOS is a smaller,
lighter package. How'd they do it? This model
uses the same chip type that powers smartphones
and tablets.”

12. Project Glass
• https://plus.google.com/+projectglass/posts
• Project Glass: One day... “Technology should
work for you — to be there when you need it and
get out of your way when you don't. A team
within our Google[x] group started Project Glass
to build this kind of technology.”
• Project Glass. Skydiving with Project Glass. At
Google I/O 2012, the Project Glass team took
product demoing to a new level.

13. Mobile: Android
• Enhanced voice search on the Google Search
App - In the latest version of the Google Search
App for iOS and Android, not only can you say
your question out loud, but your search app can
speak your answer right back to you.