The major search engines are all memorializing the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on their home pages today. Below, a recap, some some reflections on two major ways search engines have changed since that tragic day, in terms of news coverage and disaster help. Google Home Page There's no special logo on Google for the anniversary, which perhaps might have felt out of place. Rather, Google's gone with a simple, tasteful black ribbon of remembrance and the words "Remembering September 11," as you can see below: The link next to the ribbon leads to a post on the Google Blog that covers ways Google [...]

Related Topics: Features: General | Search Engines: Disasters

Google has posted before-and-after images of the terrible devastation left behind by the tornadoes that hit the South and parts of the East Coast of the United States earlier this week, with close-up views particularly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The easiest way to see the images is through a Picasa album that the company has posted. It explains more about these here. Below is a montage photo of before and after for both Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Jefferson County, Alabama: This stunning photo clearly shows the path of the tornado that went through Tuscaloosa, leaving a diagonal brown sc [...]

Related Topics: Features: General | Google: Maps & Local | Search Engines: Disasters | Top News

Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland continues to ground flights across Europe.  Indeed, I'm hosting a friend from Britain who can't get home due to the volcanic ash crisis. This is an event made for mapping. So what have we got out there? Below, satellite images, a great New York Times airport closure tracker, real-time flight displays and yes, tweets about the volcano, mapped. New York Times Airport Closures: Which airports are closed? Which are expected to reopen and when? An excellent map for volcanic ash refugees trying to know what's happening. Well done, New York [...]

Related Topics: Features: General | Search Engines: Disasters | Top News

Move over Google, Yahoo, and Bing; blended results or not, personalized search, Twitter results and OneBoxes ... you guys are just too predictable for this article. There's a new breed of search engines out there, and they're letting users search and find some utterly crazy stuff. And by "crazy," I mean a lot of things: unique, cool, awesome, and downright strange. Sometimes all of the above. A search engine that lets you find (and buy) discontinued soda pop? Check. A search engine that helps you find cheap Amazon.com items so you can get free shipping? Sure! A search engine to locate misspell [...]

Related Topics: Search Engines: Disasters | Search Engines: Government Search Engines | Search Engines: Health & Medical Search Engines | Search Engines: Other Search Engines | Top News

Both Google Maps and Bing Maps offer ways to see the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Below, a look at how to see before and after images, taken by satellite. Plus, several 360-degree ground level videos you can view. 360-Degree On-The-Ground Video Immersive Media has released a number of 360-degree view videos of someone actually walking in the disaster area. You can move the video around and get a true on-the-ground view. Here's one of them (sorry that it starts auto-playing -- I can't find a way to prevent this): Bing Maps Over at Bing Maps, the best thing is t [...]

Related Topics: Features: General | Google: Maps & Local | Microsoft: Bing Maps & Local | Search Engines: Disasters | Top News