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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Never Lost Again summary
Bill Kilday
The Google Mapping Revolution that Sparked New Industries and Augmented Our Reality
19 mins
Brief summary
Never Lost Again by Bill Kilday narrates the story of the rise of Google Maps. The book showcases the development of mapping technology, from satellites to unknown corners of the planet.
Table of Contents
Never Lost Again
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
At the beginning of the Google Maps story is a little start-up called Keyhole.
On a warm spring day in 1999, Bill Kilday answered a phone call from an old college friend. It was John Hanke, an intellectual whiz kid Kilday had known since freshman year at the University of Texas. There was something John desperately wanted Bill to see.
Later that day, Bill and his fiancée, Shelley, watched as John set up a computer in their spare room. On the screen was the earth – a blue dot in dark space. Bill and Shelley were unimpressed at first, but then they watched as John zoomed in and zoomed in some more.
He flew down, like Superman, to the North American continent, then to the USA, then to Austin, Texas, until they were looking at the roof of Bill and Shelley’s own house. Bill and Shelley were astonished.
The key message here is: At the beginning of the Google Maps story is a little start-up called Keyhole.
This demo, called EarthViewer, would one day grow into Google Earth and Google Maps. For now, though, the technology belonged to a small Silicon Valley start-up called Keyhole.
The company had recently appointed John Hanke as CEO. He led a team of experienced software engineers from a tiny office in Mountain View, California. After John noticed the potential of the EarthViewer project, the company focused all its efforts on making it a success.
Keyhole’s dream was to create an EarthViewer program that could be run on any computer in the world. But that dream would have to wait, because the technology simply wouldn’t allow for it – at least not yet.
One area in which they could make progress without delay was data collection. After all, mapping the earth required lots of data.
At first, Keyhole used a compilation of free satellite images provided by NASA called Blue Marble. But they soon realized that getting higher-resolution images would mean using photos captured from advanced imaging satellites or low-flying planes.
This led Keyhole to the work of Airphoto USA, a company run by a long-haired, heavy-drinking biker named J. R. Robertson. With his fleet of fourteen planes, this renegade CEO had mapped many large cities. And with access to these images, Keyhole began the process of mapping the world.
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What is Never Lost Again about?
Never Lost Again (2018) details the story of Google Maps and Google Earth – from their origins with Keyhole, a little-known Silicon Valley start-up, to their roll-out under Google in 2005. In addition to following the different characters who made the applications happen, Never Lost Again explores how the world has changed forever since the Google mapping revolution began.
Never Lost Again Review
Never Lost Again (2018) is a fascinating exploration of the rise of Google Maps and its impact on the world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It uncovers the untold stories behind the creation of Google Maps, revealing the immense challenges and the brilliant minds that turned an ambitious project into a global phenomenon.
- By delving deep into the power of geolocation technology, the book offers an intriguing look at how maps have transformed our understanding of the world and revolutionized industries.
- The book sheds light on the social and economic implications of mapping technology, exploring how it has influenced everyday life, businesses, and even global politics.
Who should read Never Lost Again?
- Anyone interested in Silicon Valley
- Coders, software developers, and tech enthusiasts
- Company leaders looking for an inspiring vision
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Never Lost Again FAQs
What is the main message of Never Lost Again?
Never Lost Again is about the creation of Google Maps and the revolution of digital mapping.
How long does it take to read Never Lost Again?
The reading time for Never Lost Again varies, but it takes a few hours to read. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Never Lost Again a good book? Is it worth reading?
Never Lost Again is a captivating read, offering insights into the world of digital maps and their impact on our lives.
Who is the author of Never Lost Again?
The author of Never Lost Again is Bill Kilday.
What to read after Never Lost Again?
If you're wondering what to read next after Never Lost Again, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Dogfight by Fred Vogelstein
- AI for Business Leaders by Michael Ramsay
- How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
- Life After Google by George Gilder
- The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku
- Move Fast and Break Things by Jonathan Taplin
- The Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany Mclean
- The House of Rothschild by Niall Ferguson
- Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock
- Playing with FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) by Scott Rieckens