At the end of November 2019, I took it upon myself to challenge the Local Guides community to get hands-on experience with Google Earth Project and take advantage of this new powerful tool as a Local Guide. Six different types of uses were identified and presented as categories for the #CommunityChallenge.
The six suggested uses for Local Guides included how to use Google Earth to promote one’s unofficial LG community, Meet-Up, LG Cause, and Google Maps Lists.
Although the project was presented as a competition, it was said from the start that the aim of the project was to inspire members of our community to create high quality, interesting Google Earth Projects.
I have to admit, that part of my motivation to launch this project was selfish. I wanted to play with Google Earth and get a better understanding of the tool and its uses as Local Guides and knew that by doing so publicly, I would be more likely to keep my focus and get further than trying to do the same on my own.
The project was both successful and unsuccessful.
The following boxes were ticked:
- The project made me complete one project within one week and made me start 2 other (more ambitious) GE projects that are not yet finished.
- My first personal experience gave me valuable insights that I was able to share in a tips and tricks article that was featured for several weeks on Local Guides Connect and thus reaching lots of potential people that were perhaps not yet aware of the new capability of Google Earth.
- I was also able to share feedback with the Google Earth team via feedback in the app.
- By talking about the Community Challenge and asking people about it, I was able to empower several people to give it a try.
- By staying in touch with some of the people that told me that they started building a GE Project, I got more insights into the hurdles and road-blocks that they encountered to finish their project.
- I had some interesting conversations with @ErmesT , that is always a win for me.
More importantly, I learned about how Ermes is using GE Projects to collaborate with people for his Accessible Paths cause. A project I plan to participate in. - I made new LG friends, like @Ddimitra whom I interviewed during a video Meet & Greet.
- As mentioned before, I had a lot of interactions with Local Guides because of this project, all very valuable to me.
Things that did not happen as I had hoped for:
- Not every “use” category for Google Earth Projects resulted in at least one single (inspiring) example.
- The number of submitted finished projects was significantly lower than I expected, but on the other hand, the lack thereof could also be explained as I started asking people why. It became part of the learning experience and clarified the “limitations/ user objections” of the Google Earth projects tool.
- As there were not enough participants to execute the competition element of the project, there was no need for a jury and I missed out on all the fun to talk about meaty topics such as “what makes something good or better”?
Some Conclusions About Google Earth Project
- At the time of the project, Google Earth Projects was still very new and unknown to many people. This in itself is a hurdle as not everyone is inclined to “buy into” something when they are unfamiliar with it or unable to validate it.
- Google Earth Projects is still in its infancy. It needs more time to further develop and iron out some reported bugs.
- The limited sharing option makes it less attractive. It is not much more than a PowerPoint in the end that requires you to actively share as a document link with people. There is (not yet) any directory or public platform where you can find and encounter GE Projects on topics of your interest…
- GE Projects requires a computer with a high level of processing power. Several people that started participating in the Community Challenge got stuck because their equipment was not up for the job.
- GE Projects require a lot of data transmissions with the GE servers. This makes it either costly or impossible with people that have a limited internet connection.
- GE Project can be very labor-intensive, so people require a certain level of time commitment to be able to complete their projects.
I like to use this opportunity to thank ALL Local Guides that engaged with this project and talked with me. Even when I am fully aware that some of you are very disappointed for not meeting the deadline or getting stuck in the process. I sincerely hope, you will get to finish your project and ask you not to stress about it.
Even your half build result will be safe in your Google Drive and available in the future when conditions (may) have changed.
