Earth Update is a software suite for museums and personal users to get the best in Earth Science. It included three Earth science games, as well. We do not have the resources to update the software, however, so we are, at least for now, discontinuing sales of this software. You can still access its content from the web version of the software: http://earth.rice.edu/earthupdate/
Also available are numerous Earth Update Activities for educators to download and use in the classroom.
Earth Update suite of applications
Atmosphere
Explore topics such as hurricanes, weather, cloud cover, the ozone hole, and much more
Biosphere
Learn about biomes and the wide diversity of plant and animal life on Earth, track fires, deforestation, and vegetation
Cryosphere
Featuring topics about polar sea ice, recent ice ages, and seasonal snow coverage
Geosphere
Topics include plate tectonics, seismology; daily updates include earthquake maps and volcano maps
Hydrosphere
Investigate ocean currents and El Niño, daily data on ocean temperature and wave height
Atmosphere
The sphere modules of Earth Update operate like a digital reference guide to that particular realm of the Earth's environment. Each application includes 4 general information guides to the sphere ("What", "Why", "Who", "How"), and organizes specific topics under the headings of "What's Hot" (recent), "Sphere Topics" (general), and "Latest Images" (updating). Users can explore these areas to discover images and movies that will teach them about Earth science.
The "Latest Images" can be updated with today's data by downloading the most recent version of an image or movie from the internet without ever leaving the software. The entire application can also be updated all at once using the "Update Sphere" feature.
Atmosphere runs as part of Earth Update or as a stand-alone application. A full-screen version is available to download but requires a purchased registration number after the 30-day demo period.
Features
Includes topics on...
- weather patterns and forecasts, current temperatures
- hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning
- air pressure, cloud cover, pollution
- global warming, ozone holes
Other features...
- options to install regional weather, temp, and severe forecast data for your local area
- detailed captions
- built in glossary of highlighted terms
- "More Info" credit links to the internet
- updating of "today's data" with one click
- screensaver
Sample screenshots
From the default splash screen of the Earth Update module you can select 3 types of topics or learn about the basics of the Sphere
User has selected an item from to explore and is stepping through the 'Sphere Topics' list using the onscreen controls
Topics found under 'Latest Images' can be updated with today's data from the internet by selecting 'Update Image'
Biosphere
The sphere modules of Earth Update operate like a digital reference guide to that particular realm of the Earth's environment. Each application includes 4 general information guides to the sphere ("What", "Why", "Who", "How"), and organizes specific topics under the headings of "What's Hot" (recent), "Sphere Topics" (general), and "Latest Images" (updating). Users can explore these areas to discover images and movies that will teach them about Earth science.
The "Latest Images" can be updated with today's data by downloading the most recent version of an image or movie from the internet without ever leaving the software. The entire application can also be updated all at once using the "Update Sphere" feature.
Biosphere runs as part of Earth Update or as a stand-alone application. A full-screen version is available to download but requires a purchased registration number after the 30-day demo period.
Features
Includes topics on...
- biodiversity, biomes, food chains
- man's impact on Earth
- seasonal vegetation changes
- droughts and fires
- deforestation
Other features...
- detailed captions
- built in glossary of highlighted terms
- "More Info" credit links to the internet
- updating of "today's data" with one click
- screensaver
Sample screenshots
View of the Help screen from the Biosphere module showing what all the interface features and controls are
A 'What's Hot' topic has been loaded and expanded to fill the view panel with the user poised to minimize the image and continue exploring
A user has selected a topic on fires in Africa and has expanded the image to view it fullscreen
Cryosphere
The sphere modules of Earth Update operate like a digital reference guide to that particular realm of the Earth's environment. Each application includes 4 general information guides to the sphere ("What", "Why", "Who", "How"), and organizes specific topics under the headings of "What's Hot" (recent), "Sphere Topics" (general), and "Latest Images" (updating). Users can explore these areas to discover images and movies that will teach them about Earth science.
The "Latest Images" can be updated with today's data by downloading the most recent version of an image or movie from the internet without ever leaving the software. The entire application can also be updated all at once using the "Update Sphere" feature.
Cryosphere runs as part of Earth Update or as a stand-alone application. A full-screen version is available to download but requires a purchased registration number after the 30-day demo period.
Features
Includes topics on...
- sea ice coverage, ice sheet thinning
- icebergs, polar ice
- glaciers
- seasonal snow coverage
Other features...
- detailed captions
- built in glossary of highlighted terms
- "More Info" credit links to the internet
- updating of "today's data" with one click
- screensaver
Sample screenshots
User has selected an animation about polar ice coverage from the 'Sphere Topics' section
Learning about 'WHAT' the Cryosphere is and selecting a highlighted word for a pop-up definition
While viewing a topic a user has selected a link to another sphere bringing up this transition screen
Geosphere
The sphere modules of Earth Update operate like a digital reference guide to that particular realm of the Earth's environment. Each application includes 4 general information guides to the sphere ("What", "Why", "Who", "How"), and organizes specific topics under the headings of "What's Hot" (recent), "Sphere Topics" (general), and "Latest Images" (updating). Users can explore these areas to discover images and movies that will teach them about Earth science.
The "Latest Images" can be updated with today's data by downloading the most recent version of an image or movie from the internet without ever leaving the software. The entire application can also be updated all at once using the "Update Sphere" feature.
Geosphere runs as part of Earth Update or as a stand-alone application. A full-screen version is available to download but requires a purchased registration number after the 30-day demo period.
Features
Includes topics on...
- volcanoes
- earthquakes
- plate tectonics
- Earth from space
- energy
- remote sensing
Other features...
- detailed captions
- built in glossary of highlighted terms
- "More Info" credit links to the internet
- updating of "today's data" with one click
- screensaver
Sample screenshots
A user has selected a topic that can be updated and is downloading the lastest data from the internet
This shows the transition screen from Geosphere to Hydrosphere linked by a topic relevant to both
A topic from 'What's Hot' is loaded and the user is controlling the playback of the animation
Hydrosphere
The sphere modules of Earth Update operate like a digital reference guide to that particular realm of the Earth's environment. Each application includes 4 general information guides to the sphere ("What", "Why", "Who", "How"), and organizes specific topics under the headings of "What's Hot" (recent), "Sphere Topics" (general), and "Latest Images" (updating). Users can explore these areas to discover images and movies that will teach them about Earth science.
The "Latest Images" can be updated with today's data by downloading the most recent version of an image or movie from the internet without ever leaving the software. The entire application can also be updated all at once using the "Update Sphere" feature.
Hydrosphere runs as part of Earth Update or as a stand-alone application. A full-screen version is available to download but requires a purchased registration number after the 30-day demo period.
Features
Includes topics on...
- hurricanes, tsunamis
- the water cycle
- El Niño
- sea temperatures and wave height
- rainfall and floods
Other features...
- detailed captions
- built in glossary of highlighted terms
- more Info credit links to the internet
- updating of "today's data" with one click
- screensaver
Sample screenshots
User is viewing a 'Latest Images' topic zoomed to full-panel and is selecting a caption word for definition
User is browsing topics from the 'What's Hot' section of the module
User has selected 'Update Sphere' and is opting to install all new topics available from our servers
Earth Update is a trademark of
Space Update, Inc.