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Ok Glass… Let’s celebrate Earth Day
April 22, 2014
Part of honoring Earth Day is celebrating the people who dedicate their lives to protecting our planet’s most vulnerable species. You’ll find one of those people in the tall grasslands of Nepal’s
Chitwan National Park
, where Sabita Malla, a senior research officer at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is hard at work protecting rhinos and Bengal tigers from poaching. She spends her days collecting data about wildlife in order to track the animals, assess threats, and provide support where needed. Now, she’s getting help from something a bit unexpected:
Google Glass
.
Last year, WWF started exploring how smart eyewear could help further its conservation mission in the Arctic and the Amazon as part of the
Giving through Glass
Explorer program. Now they’ve brought it to Nepal to see how it could help monitor wild rhinos. Take a peek:
Rhino monitoring can be a slow process, especially in habitats with tricky terrain, but data collection is crucial for making the right conservation decisions. Most parts of Chitwan National Park are inaccessible to vehicles, so Sabita and her team ride in on elephants, and have been collecting health and habitat data using pencil and paper.
Now custom-built Glassware (the Glass version of apps) called Field Notes can help Sabita do her work hands-free instead of gathering data in a notebook. That’s helpful for both accuracy and safety when you’re on an elephant. Using voice commands, Sabita and other researchers can take photos and videos, and map a rhino’s location, size, weight, and other notable characteristics. The notes collected can also be automatically uploaded to a shared doc back at the office, making it easier to collaborate with other researchers, and potentially a lot faster than typing up handwritten notes.
This is just one example of a nonprofit exploring how Glass can make their critical work easier. Today, we’re looking for more ideas from you.
If you work at a nonprofit and have an idea for how to make more of a difference with Glass, share your ideas at
g.co/givingthroughglass
by 11:59 PDT on May 20, 2014. Five U.S.-based nonprofits will get a Glass device, a trip to a Google office for training, a $25,000 grant, and help from Google developers to make your Glass project a reality.
To learn more about Google.org's ongoing collaboration with World Wildlife Fund, visit
this site
.
Posted by Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google.org
Through the Google lens: this week’s search trends
April 18, 2014
What did you search for this week? What about everyone else? Starting today, we’ll be sharing a regular look back at some of the top trending items on Google Search. Let’s dive in.
From afikomen to 1040EZ
People were looking for information on Palm Sunday and Good Friday ahead of Easter;
searches for both days
were even higher than searches for the Pope himself. Turning to another religious tradition, with Passover beginning on Monday we saw
searches
rise over 100 percent for Seder staples like [charoset recipe], [brisket passover] and of course [matzo balls]. Alongside these celebrations, U.S. citizens observed another annual rite of spring: taxes were due on April 15, leading to a
rise in searches
for [turbotax free], [irs] and (whoops) [turbotax extension].
But what made this year different from all other years? A rare lunar eclipse known as the “blood moon,” when the Earth’s shadow covers the moon, making it look red, and which occurred on Tuesday. There were
more than 5 million searches
on the topic, as people were eager to learn more. (Hint: if you missed seeing the blood moon this time around, keep your eyes on the sky in October. This is the first lunar eclipse in a “lunar tetrad,” a series of four total lunar eclipses each taking place six lunar months apart.)
Say goodbye and say hello
This week marked the first anniversary of last year’s
Boston Marathon
bombing, and commemorations led searches for the term [boston strong] to rise once again. And just yesterday, we were saddened by the passing of
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
, the Colombian writer best known for his masterpiece “100 Years of Solitude”—not to mention responsible for high schoolers across the U.S. knowing the term “magical realism.” On a happier note, former First Daughter
Chelsea Clinton
announced she’s expecting.
Entertainment that makes you go ZOMG
“Game of Thrones” fans—at least those who hadn’t read the books—were treated to a bombshell in this past Sunday’s episode when (
spoiler alert
) yet another wedding turned murderous. Searches for [who killed joffrey]
skyrocketed
as people struggled to process the loss of the boy king we love to hate. On the more sedate end of the Sunday TV spectrum, we welcomed back AMC’s “Mad Men,” which continues to provide viewers with plenty of innuendo, allusion and fashion to chew on—and
search
for—in between episodes.
The trailer for the highly anticipated film version of “Gone Girl” dropped this week—vaulting
searches
for [gone girl trailer] nearly 1,000 percent—as did a
clip
from another book-to-movie remake, “The Fault in Our Stars.” Between these two films we expect no dry eyes in June and no intact fingernails come October. At least we’ve got something funny to look forward to: as news broke this week that Fox 2000 is developing a sequel to the 1993 comedy classic "Mrs. Doubtfire,"
searches
on the subject have since spiked.
And that’s it for this week in search. If you’re interested in exploring trending topics on your own, check out
Google Trends
. And starting today, you can also sign up to
receive emails
on your favorite terms, topics, or Top Charts for any of 47 countries.
Posted by Emily Wood, Google Blog Editor, who searched this week for [gossip girl vulture recaps] and [tron bike lights]
Providing more CS professional development for K-12 teachers with an expanded CS4HS
April 17, 2014
For more than five years, we’ve provided free and inexpensive teacher professional development trainings in computer science education through
Computer Science for High School (CS4HS)
. In this program, Google provides funding and support for experts to create hands-on professional development training in CS education for K-12 educators. The goal is to arm teachers with the knowledge they need to help their students succeed in the field. The program has already trained more than 12,000 teachers, and reached more than 600,000 students—and we’ve gotten great feedback over the years (a 95% satisfaction rate!).
It’s been a great success, but there is still much more to do. So this year, we’re taking the first steps toward extending CS4HS across the globe. We’re piloting CS4HS projects in Latin America for the first time—an area where computer science education is often mistaken for computer literacy (think word processing, typing, or changing settings on your operating system rather than robotics or coding a game). We’re also introducing
eight new online workshops
, so teachers no longer need to be located near a CS4HS event to get quality training.
It’s not just the “where” we’re expanding, but the “when,” as well. We’re now providing new resources for teachers to get ongoing, year-round help. Our Google+ Community page hosts Hangouts on Air with CS industry leaders, Googlers, and top educators on a regular basis. And we’ve added a new
Resources page
with online workshops, tutorials and information on computational thinking, robotics and more. Finally, if you happen to be in the neighborhood at the right time, sign up for one of our in-person workshops available around the world in these locations:
Posted by Erin Mindell Cannon, Google Education Program Manager
From Lake Tanganyika to Google Earth: Using tech to help our communities
April 3, 2014
Today we're joined by Dr. Jane Goodall, primatologist and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots program. In this post, Dr. Goodall shares her thoughts on how today’s technology can enable more people around the world to make a difference in their communities. Join Dr. Goodall for a celebratory
Birthday Hangout on Air
today at 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EDT.
-Ed.
When I first set foot on the shores of
Lake Tanganyika
in 1960 to study chimpanzee behavior, I carried with me notebooks, pencils and a pair of second-hand binoculars. I was, at the time, a young woman with no scientific training, but had a strong passion for learning about animals in Africa. In later years I founded the
Jane Goodall Institute
, dedicated to preserving the habitat of chimpanzees and other animals worldwide.
The author connects with a member of the Kasakela chimpanzee community in Gombe.
Photo courtesy of JGI.
Today, the mapping technology available to all of us is completely changing the potential for animal and environmental research. My trip in 1960 would have looked quite different today. You have much more power at your fingertips, and you don't even have to leave your home. Tools like
Google Earth
let you visit the shores of Lake Tanganyika with just a few keystrokes. And in
Gombe
, local villagers are using Android smartphones and tablets, in conjunction with Google Maps Engine and Earth Engine, to
monitor changes in the forest habitat
that affect chimpanzee populations. Technology makes it so easy for people to find and share information and to understand the world around them. And once we understand, we can start to foster positive change.
The Jane Goodall Institute engages local communities from Tanzania, Uganda and across Africa to collect data on forests, wildlife and human activities using Google Android handheld devices.
Photo courtesy of JGI/Lilian Pintea.
That’s one of the reasons we started the
Roots & Shoots
program to connect young people with the knowledge and tools they need to solve problems in their communities. The projects undertaken by these young people help them learn important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills while developing real leadership capabilities. Today, Roots & Shoots is launching a new
community mapping tutorial
for young people to help them use digital mapping technology to identify and address needs in their community. If you’re an educator, we offer online professional development to help you fit our youth leadership model into your classroom and curriculum. You can sign up for the
Roots & Shoots MOOC
to learn more.
Roots & Shoots groups from Uganda, Tanzania, and Republic of Congo share their projects.
There are more than 8,000 Roots & Shoots groups in 136 countries. Photos courtesy of JGI.
Today, on my 80th birthday, my wish is for young people around the world to think about the ways you can use technology to learn more about the wonderful world we share. Then, to take action, and inspire others to do the same. You have the power to do so much more than I did in 1960, to spark change I could only imagine back then. And you can do it no matter where in the world you are.
Posted by Dr. Jane Goodall
Introducing Auto Awesome Photobombs with David Hasselhoff
March 31, 2014
Google+ Auto Awesome
is all about fun surprises that bring your photos to life. And whether it’s
Benedict Cumberbatch at the Oscars
or
Michelle Obama at the White House
, a celebrity photobomb is the ultimate surprise, turning an ordinary photo into something extraordinary.
Now with Auto Awesome Photobombs, you too can get a celebrity photobomb—no red carpet required. We’re starting with surprise appearances by
+David Hasselhoff
, everyone’s favorite crime-fighting rockstar lifeguard.
Watch your step! The Hoff joins these adventurous hikers at Machu Picchu
The Hoff rides the waves in Big Sur
The Hoff enjoys a breezy afternoon by the San Francisco Bay
Upload a new self-portrait, or a group photo with friends
, and leave some room for The Hoff. He might just make your photo a little more
#Hoffsome
.
Posted by Erik Murphy-Chutorian, Staff Software Engineer and Avid Photobomber
Transparency Report: Requests for user information up 120 percent over four years
March 27, 2014
While we’ve always known how important transparency is when it comes to government requests, the events of the past year have underscored just how urgent the issue is. From being the first company to
disclose information about National Security Letters
to fighting for the ability to
publish more about FISA requests
, we’ve continually advocated for your right to know.
Today, we’re updating our
Transparency Report
for the ninth time. This updated Report details the number of government requests we received for user information in criminal investigations during the second half of 2013. Government requests for user information in criminal cases have increased by about 120 percent since we first began publishing these numbers in 2009. Though our number of users has grown throughout the time period, we’re also seeing more and more governments start to exercise their authority to make requests.
We consistently push back against overly broad requests for your personal information, but it’s also important for laws to explicitly protect you from government overreach. That’s why we’re working alongside eight other companies to push for
surveillance reform
, including more transparency. We’ve all been sharing best practices about how to report the requests we receive, and as a result our Transparency Report now includes governments that made less than 30 requests during a six-month reporting period, in addition to those that made 30+ requests.
Also, people have been asking about how we respond to search warrants in the U.S., so we’ve created an entertaining
video
to explain in plain language how this process works. We apply the same rigorous standards presented in this video to every request we receive, regardless of type.
You deserve to know when and how governments request user information online, and we’ll keep fighting to make sure that’s the case.
Posted by Richard Salgado, Legal Director, Law Enforcement and Information Security
Get Your Business Online Week starts today
March 24, 2014
Since getting online,
Green Mountain Bee Farm
in Fairfax, Vt. experienced a 5x increase in sales, and
Christine Fitzpatrick Hair and Makeup
in Birmingham, Mich. attracted 50 percent more clients. Getting online can make a big difference for small businesses—and stronger businesses makes for stronger communities. Online businesses are expected to grow 40 percent faster and create twice as many jobs as those that aren't online,* but more than half of America’s small businesses currently don't have a website.
That’s the inspiration behind
Get Your Business Online Week
, when we come together with local partners to get businesses in our communities online and growing. Starting today, we’ll broadcast free
virtual workshops
for business owners, available to anyone with an Internet connection. Here’s a glimpse of what you can look forward to:
Conversations with businesses
that have prospered online, like
Barkbox
,
GoldieBlox
and Dollar Shave Club
Step-by-step demos
on building a website and getting found on Search and Maps
Interviews with small business experts
like
SmallBizLady
Melinda Emerson
Workshops
on Google tools for businesses (Google Apps, Google Trends, Google Alerts), online advertising (AdWords), and measuring your success online (Analytics)
Free help and advice
from experts over
Helpouts by Google
We’re also teaming up with small business organizations across the country including local chambers of commerce,
Small Business Development Centers
and
SCORE
chapters to host live broadcasts of our trainings. You can find a screening closest to you
on our website
.
We’re excited to welcome small business everywhere to join us for this special week. Even if you don’t own a business, we encourage you to take part by spreading the word and inviting your favorite businesses to sign up.
See you on the web!
Posted by Amber Shapiro, on behalf of the Get Your Business Online team
*Source: BCG Report, "The Connected World: The $4.2 Trillion Opportunity," March 2012
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