Brian McClendon: The Story of Google Maps, Pokemon Go & Keyhole - MBM#59

Brian McClendon was one of the earliest investors & later VP of Engineering at Keyhole, which got acquired by Google in 2004. Brian become VP of Engineering and led Google Geo, overlooking the development of Google Earth & Google Maps. He also worked at Uber & is now at Niantic, which you might know for thri most popular app: Pokemon GoSponsor: OpenCage Use OpenCage for your geocoding needs with their API GeomobAbout BrianLinkedInNianticShownotesNever Lost Again by Bill Kilday (Affiliate Link)Brian’s University of Kansas course: “Startups Rasing Money”@Home Network (Wikipedia Page)Keyhole Inc (History of Google Earth Wikipedia)Google EarthI think you can find a link to Google Maps on your own :)Nicaragua border storyBooks & Podcast3 Body Problem by Cixin Liu (Affiliate Link)Marketplace podcastTimestamps(00:00) - Introduction(01:16) - Sponsor: OpenCage(02:42) - Brian describes himself(03:33) - Getting into computer graphics(05:15) - From engineer to building companies(08:06) - The Beginnings of Keyhole(12:42) - EarthViewer demo(14:33) - Going through rough times(21:00) - What made Keyhole so unique(25:56) - How much of Keyhole's work is still in Google Earth?(32:08) - Borders are hard(37:20) - Changing borders(43:15) - Google's rationale for spending so much on mapping(45:37) - Use for Google Maps vs Earth(47:22) - Google Earth Engine(51:16) - Earliest Google Earth Image(52:20) - Working at Uber(57:03) - Self-driving(58:30) - Project Ground Truth(01:04:01) - Where is self-driving today?(01:10:29) - Trains vs Cars(01:14:15) - Niantic(01:17:07) - Future predictions(01:19:28) - Glasses over phones(01:21:05) - The next iPhone moment(01:23:33) - Using Tech to get people outside(01:25:57) - Teaching(01:28:11) - The need for tech companies outside the Bay Area(01:30:21) - Remote work(01:34:59) - Recommendations to students(01:36:10) - Book/Podcast RecommendationsSupport the podcast on PatreonMy video on an introduction to satellite imagesWebsiteMy TwitterPodcast TwitterRead Previous Issues of the NewsletterEdited by Peter XiongFind more of his work