Google Does It Again With SketchUp
By STRZA in Uncategorized, Tech, Money, Google, environment, business, America, Web 2.0, SketchUp, 3-D, Modeling, Software, Graphic, Design, Urban, Google Earth on March 10 2008
Since I started using Google SketchUp recently, I was sure I had a just found a hidden gem. I was wrong. It seems I’m the last one to have stumbled upon this impressive Google application.
In fact, Google didn’t develop it, they just bought the company that developed it back in 2000. A powerfully simple modeling tool, SketchUp is aimed at architects, urban planners, other design professionals and amateurs who would prefer to crank out their 3-D models with a 2-D mouse and simple user interface. Using only a handful of basic tools, you can create everything from rough sketches to accurate designs, share them with other SketchUp users in the free 3-D online warehouse, and even export them into other popular GIS applications.
Google does not market this tool just for the sales revenue (you can try it for free or buy the Pro version for $495). As usual, the San Francisco software visionary is thinking ahead. Users can geo-reference their models directly into Google Earth and become part of the community of volunteer designers that is creating a virtual three-dimensional globe (Property of Google!) available to anyone with an internet connection. To get amateur users buzzing, they announced the 2008 International Model Your Campus Competition. University students can “honor their home turf” and vie for prizes like iPods and Wii consoles awarded to the best student SketchUp teams around the world. Once again, Google proves how to maintain it’s status as Internet Revolutionary and still seem like your cool 34-year-old uncle.
Web 2.0 is perhaps best known for social networking, home videos, and blogs. But it’s more than just a hub for homemade entertainment and political rambling. Similar to Wikipedia’s open pool of knowledge, SketchUp does the same for collecting and sharing 3-D images. While you can mess around designing your fantasy home complete with tennis court and home theater, Google’s hope is that you will share the valuable component parts of your model - real or imagined - with the rest of the SketchUp community.
Oh, and in order to share, you need a Google account. Don’t worry - they assure me it’s free and easy.
