AUDIO (Slow)

AUDIO (Normal)

Google releases free 'Google Earth' flight simulator

Google has announced it will make a flight  simulator available to the public. The simulator has existed since 2007, but has only been on the desktop version of Google Earth. People had to download the program and install it on their desktop. The new version will be browser-based. Anyone can now access the flight simulator on a web browser, without having to download or install anything. On its website, Google said: "The flight simulator is designed for casual exploration rather than high-fidelity aerodynamic training." You will be able to fly all over the world using Google's  map technology. Google said users may experience issues "when flying near ground level in regions below sea level".

To use the flight simulator, you will have to open the Google Earth website and click on the "Explore Earth" button in the top right corner. This will take you to a page showing a picture of Earth set against the black of space. You can then choose where in the world you want to fly to, from, or around by typing your desired location in the search bar. To start flying, you need to click on "Tools" in the menu bar and then select "Flight simulator" from the ｄrop-down menu. The controls are shown on Google's developer website. CNET.com wrote: "Google Earth's flight simulator has access to the entire Google Earth database, so you can fly to almost anywhere on Earth and check out various landmarks."

-

Chat

Talk about these words from the article.

Google / Earth / flight simulators / downloads / desktop / web browser / maps / flying / explore / the black of space / locations / ｄrop-down menus / databases / landmarks

-

Discussion – Student

1) What do you think about what you read?

2) What do you think when you see a picture of Earth?

3) What is your most desired location around the world?

4) What do you think is in the black of space?

5) What are your experiences of flying in airplanes?

6) What are your favourite landmarks?

7) How difficult is it to be a pilot?

8) What questions would you like to ask Google?