Now instead of checking on whether the neighbor has a pool or whether a remote point is likely to have waves, Google Earth has added a new feature that can map surf breaks all over the globe and give detailed advice on the best spots. The wave scouting cyber device is made possible due to a new dimension added to Google Earth: the sea floor. Rather than simply scanning the planet's terrain from a satellite, the new application gathers data from a variety of sources -- including the US Navy and the National Geographic -- in order to map out the ocean's depths. Then building on this groundbreaking foundation, features like wave hunting have been erected.

In light of this technological breakthrough, surfing will undoubtedly be taken to new frontiers. But how will the knowledge about the destination affect the thrill of the journey? Obviously, the prospect of perfectly peeling rides is already enough of an excitement to stoke basically any average surfer out of his mind. And more over, the ability to know when and where to find waves will certainly save the typical worker a whole lot of money and hassle, since the one-time annual vacation will be less likely wasted on knee-high chop.

But on the other hand, the thrilling prospects of venturing into the almost absolute unknown and taking a chance on an unmapped terrain are practically wiped out of the travel plans. But aren't these partly what make the discovery of a new and epic break so thrilling? This new world of Google Earth has unquestionable merits when seen through the prism of technological advancement and resource management. However, when seen through the lens of human experience, it appears that the ability to know undermines an important aspect of the trip, namely, the thrill that comes from not knowing. (For more, see the Wall Street Journal and the New York Time.)