Search using your location is extremely helpful while on the go. Today, we’re excited to announce Meow Me Now, a new feature that lets you find the kittens that are near you. You can find kittens either by searching for [kittens] on google.com on your Android or iOS device, or by using the Near Me Now drop-down feature on the Google homepage.
Voice search to locate nearby kittens will also work on Android devices, and iOS devices with the Google Search App, so try meowing into your phone to find the kittens near you.
Understanding the world around you is imperative, especially since technology has made it easier and fun to explore places you could, otherwise, only imagine. Being geographically literate helps you interpret the plethora of information that comes your way each day (and that’s no joke)! Without the perspective of knowing where you are or where things happen, you can find it difficult to navigate your way through it all. That is why Google is excited and proud to sponsor the National Geographic Bee for the third year, which sparks student interest in geography.
Last fall, over four million students started preparing for the 2011 Bee. Today, the students who have progressed to the state bee level, will compete for one of the coveted 54 spots at the finals in Washington DC in May. It’s not as simple as memorizing a list of capitals or identifying places on a map. These geographic black belts answer tough questions about human, environmental, physical, and regional geography.
The love of geography is a great asset for these students as they continue their education and careers. It might also lead them to a life of exploration and adventure. We asked a few famous explorers why geography is important to them and how they use Google Earth. Watch our Geography video below to hear their great insight:
In the April 2010 print edition of The Atlantic, authors Dante Chinni and James Gimpel “analyzed reams of demographic, economic, cultural, and political data to break the nation’s 3,141 counties into 12 statistically distinct ‘types of place.’ When we look at family income over the past 30 years through that prism, the full picture of the income divide becomes clearer—and much starker.” The resulting maps — available online in an interactive version (Flash required) — show how each of “the 12 states” have fared between 1980 and 2010. More from the designers.
