Google launches balloons to provide internet access in rural
areas  Google launch 'Project Loon'. Google launch 'Project
Loon'. Photo: APTN  Google has launched giant balloons into the
stratosphere in a trial attempt to provide internet access to
the entire planet.  The release of the large balloons is the
culmination of 18-months work on what Google has dubbed 'Project
Loon.'  The delicate helium-filled inflatables are designed to
rise up in to the stratosphere and beam the Internet down to
earth as they sail past on the wind.  Mapping the balloons
progress from Canterbury in New Zealand. Mapping the balloons
progress from Canterbury in New Zealand. Credit: Google  Still
in their experimental stage, the balloons were launched 20
kilometres (12 miles) up in order to bridge the gaping digital
divide between the world's 4.8 billion people still without
internet access.  If successful, the technology might allow
countries to leapfrog the expense of laying fibre cable,
dramatically increasing Internet usage in pl