Google Earth to add sound effects

14 May, 2007

Log on to hear the birds sing and the lions roar. Natural sounds are the latest attraction on Google Earth. The company has made it known that it will be adding sound effects to its 3-D virtual Google Earth program.

For those who came in late, Google Earth is Google’s 3-D virtual program which allows users to zoom in on any spot on the planet’s surface. With the latest feature being added, surfers will be able to listen to sounds like that coming out of the Brazilian rainforest or even Arctic ice crashing into the sea, said a report.

The whole feature comes courtesy of musician Dr Bernie Krause (a former member of the legendary sixties folk group called The Wavers), who has reportedly spent more than 40 years collecting more than 3,500 hours of sound recordings of more than 15,000 animal noises, and sounds from a huge array of habitats, including cities, deserts, mountains and the marine environment, the report added.

In his objective is to bring the world alive, Krause has recorded the unique sounds from around the continents of the world.

Marrying technology with musical skills, Krause’s own company Wild Sanctuary based in Glen Ellen, California, has created the software that will embed these sound files into the relevant locations on Google Earth, the report added.

Google Earth’s natural sounds feature is expected to make web users aware of the impact of human activity on the environment. They can also hear modern-day sounds too at a particular location and can attempt to travel back in time and compare them with the noises of those days. A report said that the software will be available for download www.wildsanctuary.com on May 29 this year.