Google Earth: a platform for social awareness

New Paradigm colleague Paul Artiuch just tipped me off about this amazing new app on Google Earth. Google has teamed up with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to create awareness of the atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. Darfur, which has been labeled by the U.S. as the first genocide of the century, has seen over 200 000 deaths and 2.5 million displaced since the start of the conflict in 2003.

The initiative, called “Crisis in Darfur”, involves mapping photos, stories and other data onto the Google Earth platform. This will allow over 200 million users of the satellite mapping program to browse through the content to learn more about the conflict. Elliot Schrage, Google’s Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs comments, “At Google, we believe technology can be a catalyst for education and action.” The company plans to partner with the Museum to create a similar database covering the events of the Holocaust.

It is clear that Google Earth’s technology has enormous potential to become a platform for various location based services. It is interesting that the company chose a social issue for one of its first applications. Perhaps the company’s “Don’t be evil” motto is not just good PR.