The gaming technology that turned a 1990s software demo into a global view

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was a ubiquitous tool for exploring our planet, Google Earth began as a 3D gaming software demo. What started as a way to showcase graphics libraries eventually captured the world's attention during a major conflict, fundamentally changing how we witness global events from our screens.

The DNA of Google Earth lies in the late 1990s at Intrinsic Graphics, where engineers were developing 3D gaming software libraries. They created a spinning, zoomable globe as a demonstration of their technology, a visual experience reminiscent of the 'Powers of May Ten' film. While the board initially wanted to focus on gaming, the potential for mapping led to the 1999 creation of Keyhole Corporation, led by John Hanke.

Keyhole developed a method to stream massive mapping databases over the internet, a breakthrough for the era. Their product, 'Keyhole EarthViewer,' was originally sold on CDs for specialized industries like defense and urban planning. However, the software's popularity exploded in early 2003 during the invasion of Iraq. News networks like CNN, ABC, and CBS utilized Keyhole's 3D flyby imagery to illustrate the activities in Baghdad, providing millions of viewers with an unprecedented perspective on the war.

This surge in public interest and the subsequent interest from agencies like the CIA's In-Q-Tel led Google to acquire Keyhole in October 2004. By 2005, the technology became the foundation for Google Earth. Today, the platform covers more than 97 percent of the world, integrating everything from NASA's satellite imagery to Street View and even celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars.

The platform's evolution has not been without friction. It has faced privacy and national security concerns, leading to bans in certain countries and requests to obscure military sites. Furthermore, the history of its development is subject to debate; while a Netflix series, 'The Billion Dollar Code,' dramatized a patent lawsuit involving the creators of Terravision, a Keyhole co-founder has contested the show's accuracy, noting that a similar technology predated the disputed patent.

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