KeyHole

Every once in a while, there is a program that is just fun to use. One that captures the imagination, serves a purpose, provides information, and takes advantage of the latest internet and computer technology. Today's Family First site visits just such a program and the associated website.

The site we are looking at is called Keyhole.com, and the product they have that is so cool is called Keyhole 2. Keyhole 2 is a digital atlas of the world. It is available in both LT and Pro versions. Keyhole 2 LT is a software application that you download and install. It’s only 9MB, but with an annual Keyhole subscription, you can fly through 12+ Terabytes of Earth imagery and data – spinning, rotating, tilting, and zooming. Think magic carpet ride. Keyhole 2 PRO puts the earth on your desktop. Their patent-pending technology enables you to point and fly to hundreds of US and international cities. Zoom down to detail showing individual buildings, search for existing businesses by name or category, even fly to a specific address. Now, with Keyhole 2, you can easily import lists of buildings, overlays showing demographic trends, proposed developments, and even site plans. The powerful XML-based collaboration capability in Keyhole 2 allows you to share lists of locations, with custom icons and detailed descriptions, with a single click. Keyhole’s streaming technology does the heavy lifting, putting your data in the context of detailed imagery, 3D terrain, and map data.

Some of the demos on the site are neat to look at. You can take a tour of Boston to Fenway Park, visit Olympic venues, and see what Hurricane Charlie did to the southeast US. You can demo the program for seven days, to see it you would use it. I tried, and visited a lot of old stomping grounds. What was neat was when I typed in my current home address, and zoomed in, I could see our old Toyota pickup in the driveway, and the swing set in the back yard. Way too cool. The sites are not limited to the United States either, you can visit foriegn countries such as the United Kingdom and Iraq. Once you start using this little gem, you won't want to stop. I know I didn't

http://www.keyhole.com/keyhole.php

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