Let us continue with our discussion about Google’s most useful tools.

6. Google Maps

Launched in 2005, Google Maps lets its users view street maps, topographical terrain maps, and satellite views. In some areas in the word, Google even has a traffic map feature that alerts you to any traffic bottlenecks.

The application relies on digital map images from NAVTEQ, a Chicago-based provider of geographical information systems. Furthermore, deCarta powers the application with its characteristic mapping features.

Google Maps previously plotted out driving directions. Then in 2008, it added a new feature which enables you to find the shortest walking route between two points.

7. Google Earth

Google Earth provides you with a satellite view of the entire planet. You can also zoom in and out of views, giving you aerial views of buildings, cities, islands, and continents. Furthermore, the application allows you to geotag data. This means you can mark (tag) any particular place on earth. Upon clicking the tag, the camera orbiting the digital globe automatically closes in to the tagged place.

Another feature of Google Earth enables users to create applications to link information to tagged locations on the globe. Thus, when you click the tag of, say, Hong Kong, you can read the latest news happening in the city.

If you are a graphic artist, then you can have fun with Google Earth. A recent application called SketchUp allows you to create 3D buildings. You can then export your creation to Google Earth. Thus, you can add your own buildings to a cityscape (important for architects who want their clients to have a perspective view of how their building looks like) or enhance existing buildings to make them even more realistic.

8. Google Desktop

Searching for a particular file among thousands of files in your computer or digging out an e-mail that is buried in a folder that has thousands of messages in it can be frustrating. Thus, if you want to organize your files, then you can use Google Desktop, a free downloadable application. Once installed, the program searches and indexes the files in your computer. It does this during an idle time when your computer is not busy working on other things. 

Google Desktop does not stop on indexing files; it also looks for contents. For instance, you may not remember the subject of a certain e-mail, but you recall that it mentioned something about a new Scandinavian restaurant in town. Just search the term “Scandinavian” and the application will display results that are relevant to the term. One of those results will probably include the e-mail that you are looking for.

Google Desktop also offers you the option to install personalized Google Gadgets which retriever information on the Web. It then presents this information such as news feeds, to-do lists, traffic updates, or weather reports on a window that stays on your desktop. Click the information in the window to display the entire article.

9. iGoogle

Do you have a collection of websites or applications that you use more often than others? If so, you can use iGoogle, a free aggregator that allows you to access the sites and the applications all at once in a single location. Fully customizable, iGoogle enables you to select multiple applications and news feeds all across the Internet. With its simple tools, it is extremely user friendly.

10. Google Health

There will be a time when you have to change doctors, clinics, or hospitals. In addition to the stress of dealing with unfamiliar medical professionals, you need to find a way to get your medical information from your previous doctor to your new one. The transfer of medical data is important since the more your new doctor knows about your medical history, the better he will be able to diagnose and treat you.

Google’s attempt to solve this issue is through the introduction of an application called Google Health. Doctors would upload your files to Google databases. Instead of having to track down your information in a paper file, your doctor only needs to log in to your computer to pull up your medical history. Thus there is no need for you to remember which doctor has your medical files.

Many people are worried about the event of hackers gaining access to sensitive, confidential medical records. Google assures users that its databases are extremely secure and that patient privacy is taken into the highest consideration.

Use these tools to get more out of your personal and professional life.