Google Maps Adds Street Level View
Matt Creer | 13 June 2007 |
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Google Maps recently unveiled their “Street Level” view for the cities of Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. More metropolitan areas will join these five cities as time goes on.
Street View affords visitors the opportunity to obtain an online, 360 degree, first-person view of streets within selected locations.
“With Street View, you can virtually explore city neighborhoods by viewing and navigating within 360-degree scenes of street-level imagery,” posted Google Maps product manager Stephen Chau in the company’s blog. “It feels as if you’re walking down the street!”
The images are static (not real time) photographs taken with an 11-lens camera over the past few months. Google has not disclosed how often the photos will be updated. Video feeds of the same locations are expected to be released in the future.
The new Google Maps attribute has sparked some debate regarding an individual’s inherent right to privacy. There have been a couple of instances already where the photographers inadvertently showcased people engaging in activities or leaving establishments they’d rather keep to themselves.
In your opinion, what are some of the pros and cons of Google’s Street View feature? Do you think it constitutes an invasion of privacy?
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June 13th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I think it takes invasion of privacy to a new (street) level. People just walking along minding their own business are not asking to be broadcast on the world wide web. They are not celebrities!
Is this really necessary? Pretty soon, you won’t even have to leave your house. Just log on and see everything as if you were there. C’mon Google, settle down! Leave something to experience first hand!
June 13th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I think its kind of cool. Being able to see where I am going before going there will make it so I get less lost.
And as far as
You should probably think twice if you should be doing it if you area afraid of being caught.
I believe that whenever you are outside in public its legally okay to take a picture of you even if you don’t know its being done. Plus the whole “inherent right to privacy” debate leads into a much bigger debate thats going on right now.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I think it is a great new feature- at least until my photo is shown!