Google and Leap Motion are teaming up for Earth Day, and their collaboration is actually pretty cool. The latest update to Google Earth includes functionality for the new Leap Motion controller, a device that brings Minority Report-style motion control to life.
Users who download Google Earth 7.1 for Windows, Mac and Linux desktops will now be able to manipulate the Earth, spin it around, zoom in and out, and even fly (yup, check out the video below) through the globe's cities, wilderness and oceans.
The Leap Motion features will only work on the desktop computer versions of Google Earth, but from what we've seen, they look pretty cool. Unfortunately, Leap Motion doesn't officially go on sale until next month, so the only people able to take advantage of this update now are app developers.
Still, this is a high-profile development for Leap Motion, in trying to generate buzz before the controller starts shipping to consumers on May 13 and lands in stores such as Best Buy on May 19.
"Our focus at Leap Motion is to fundamentally improve how people interact with their devices, and offer as many ways as possible to achieve that vision," said Leap Motion co-founder and CEO Michael Buckwald to Forbes. "The possibilities for innovation are incredible, when you think about what will come from this collaboration between two respected global leaders in their fields - HP, the world's largest technology company and Leap Motion, creator of the world's most powerful 3-D motion-control technology."
Earlier this month, Leap Motion also announced that its controller would be bundled in with select HP products in the future.
"Our focus at Leap Motion is to fundamentally improve how people interact with their devices, and offer as many ways as possible to achieve that vision," said Buckwald. "The possibilities for innovation are incredible, when you think about what will come from this collaboration between two respected global leaders in their fields - HP, the world's largest technology company and Leap Motion, creator of the world's most powerful 3-D motion-control technology."
