Google Announces Project Loon, A Moonshot Project to Provide Balloon-Powered Internet

http://youtu.be/m96tYpEk1Ao

Google has announced the latest moonshot project from the Google X labs, Project Loon. The project’s goal is to beam internet access to the ground using a system of balloons in the stratosphere, providing internet for rural, remote, or underserved areas. The balloons can be controlled and directed using just wind and solar power, and will ideally provide internet access at speeds of 3G or faster. Google describes Project Loon as being “very early days,” but this week Google launched 30 balloons as part of a pilot program in the Canterbury area of New Zealand.

http://youtu.be/mcw6j-QWGMo

image via xkcd