The large screen shot which leads the article must be ArcGIS Explorer (but the caption doesn't say and the image is unreadable) but could very well be mistaken for Google Earth. This intro to the technology follows:

Once more associated with academic tools, the kind of information the public now associates with Google Earth or Yahoo Maps technology was touted as a powerful new tool for high-security events.

Dangermond is quoted as describing "geography as a new language...a new media" The "new" description is perhaps getting "old"? I'm not saying the geographic perspective is not valuable, but that its a bit past "new." In fact, per the media, it's become quite expected, used and applied in our daily lives.

Of note: the reporter speaks of a demo where "a tech wizard displayed a satellite image of the city of Denver in real time." (I suspect this means the "old" satellite image was brought up quickly.)

If you missed it, the difference between Google et al's solutions and ESRI, per Dangermond at this event, has to do with the data that goes into it. Atanas has an interesting take on that.