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Jun. 27, 2007

Google has launched its socially-relevant service called Google Earth Outreach.

Making great use of the power of its own mapping technology, Google Earth Outreach wants to leverage the power of its Google Earth service to efficiently illustrate the kind of work its application does.

"Our goal with Google Earth Outreach is to help public service organizations across the globe to better leverage our mapping technology, and to further their goals by providing tailored technical guidance," said John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Maps.

He added "with the use of Google Earth’s layering tool, non-profit organizations can effectively illustrate their kind of work and then recreate a visual representation of their areas, giving worldwide exposure to their social activities."

The Google Earth Outreach service will include:

Comprehensive online guides

Video tutorials

Case studies

Online forums, moderated by Google Outreach staff

In addition to all of this, non-profit organizations can apply for a Google Earth Pro Grant which would entitle them a financial assistance valued at close to $400.

Google Earth Outreach is a promising socially relevant program. It is commendable of Google despite its huge success to come up with ideas of fulfiling its corporate social responsibility.

Google Earth is a useful tool and provides a new avenue of communicating to the world easily and conveniently. As a communications tool, Google Earth is an effective way of transferring social issues and challenges to the people which could make a difference in the society.

If used properly by non-profit organizations, Google Earth and its Outreach Program could make a difference in social policy making and implementation.

Jane Goodall, DBE Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute sais "only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. With Google Earth Outreach, more people have the chance to see, to care, and then to act."

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Source: Search Engine Journal