• Home
  • Archives
  • Contact Us
    • About
  • Reporters
  • Affiliates
  • Affiliate Support
  • Sports

Nebraska Radio Network

Nebraska News and Sports

  • Legislature & Government
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Agriculture
  • Husker Sports
  • All Topics
  • PostsComments
You are here: Home / Business / Google Maps inventor talks tech in Omaha

Google Maps inventor talks tech in Omaha

April 15, 2010 By Matt Kelley

The creator of Google Maps/Earth says people in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area are helping transform lives around the world. Michael Jones is in the region this week and spoke with the Nebraska Radio Network between engagements at the Qwest Center in Omaha and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Jones acts as an ambassador for the search engine giant Google, meeting with government leaders and others to explain changes in technology and potential social implications. “Some of them are very subtle and hard to anticipate and Google may not have the answer, but we have a position to see changes that are happening,” Jones explained. “It’s almost like we can see the tidal wave, so we want to tell people, ‘I see a tidal wave, you might want to think about that.’ We can’t tell them what they should do, but we can at least point out things we see happening.”

Google Earth displays satellite images of the Earth’s surface, allowing users to zoom in on cities, buildings and houses. It’s a valuable tool for people looking to purchase a house near a good school, but Jones says Google Earth also helps famed primate researcher Jane Goodall track chimpanzee behavior in Africa, while tribes living along the Amazon can find plants for food or medicine.

Jones says computer technology is similar to a power tool or a piece of farm machinery. “Computers are a tool to make a person have like a super brain, to really put your intellect and judgment in high gear,” Jones said. “What computer science people do is learn the tools, techniques, tricks and skills to do that for other people.”

Google opened a data center in Council Bluffs in May of last year. Jones says the data center is doing more than just providing the area with roughly 200 high tech jobs. “Council Bluffs, having us and welcoming us, is really transforming lives of people all around the world,” Jones said. “It may not be obvious to people, but I want to make it a little more obvious than it may already be.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google

Filed Under: Business, Economy

Ricketts, Erstad team up for “Live Well” initiative

Husker Spring Game tickets to go on sale February 6th

Husker women on the verge of a win streak

Huskers land walk-on commitment from Kearney QB

Huskers fall at Rutgers 76 to 69

More Big Red News

Featured Stories

Senator warns medical marijuana opponents: petition drive waits in the wings (AUDIO)

Attorney General cautions Nebraska against legalizing medical marijuana (AUDIO)

Legislative leaders see a lot to like in Gov. Ricketts’ proposals (AUDIO)

Gov. Ricketts reveals two-year spending plan, calls for property tax relief in State of the State address (AUDIO)

Turnover rate at Nebraska prisons drops (AUDIO)

TwitterFacebook

Husker Sports

Copeland suffers season-ending injury Saturday, ending his college career

Huskers Drop Third Straight, Falling to the Buckeyes 70-60

Ricketts, Erstad team up for “Live Well” initiative

Husker Spring Game tickets to go on sale February 6th

Husker women on the verge of a win streak

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2019 · Learfield News & Ag. LLC