Today Google added Phoenix (and Tucson) to its relatively new, somewhat controversial mapping product StreetView.
From today's Arizona Republic:
Today, the Phoenix area joins a handful of U.S. cities that people around the globe can tour – virtually – via a controversial new program known as Street View.
Street View is similar to the popular Google Earth and Google Maps programs, but it lets users navigate a city's streets in much greater detail by viewing 360-degree panoramic images.
It's pretty cool technology. Here is a view of Chase Field (home of this year's World Series Champions – hopefully):
Images I've seen from other cities previously added to StreetView were much clearer…. In fact, most of the Phoenix photos I've seen stink, especially when compared to the crystal clear shots I've seen in other cities. Perhaps better is to come.
What's the controversy? Privacy issues…. in some places you can zoom in and see identifiable faces, license plate numbers, etc. Apparently some folks don't want to be photographed walking into places like this:
There are cottage industries out there sprouting up from people that don't have anything better to do than look around for random people in compromising situations. I'm not going to link to them, but they aren't hard to find.
The application of this product for real estate remains to be seen. With enough coverage (and better photos) of the Phoenix metro area, it could be an interesting way for people relocating to "drive around" neighborhoods of interest.
[tags]Google StreetView[/tags]
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Check out this list of the “alleged” Google Street View privacy invasions already discovered in the US:
http://www.laudontech.com/google-street-view/google-street-view.html
There is even a Google Street View capture of a woman going in for an HIV test!
Wow – this seems like a great idea and very useful tool but I’m not sure the privacy issues can get worked out. Seems like Google is putting itself out for some big lawsuits. I’ve never heard of this service. Thanks for pointing it out Jay
It would be cool if they put a sign out whereever they put a camera. Just so people would now they were being filmed.
Yes, this is the worst nightmare coming true. Big brother will be watching you. No, I do not think that this is such a good idea irrespective of whatever advantages that may accrue.
Yes I heard they are moving to Chicago too and yes Chicago has a pretty good public camera system. People are begging for cameras to be removed from their streets but google does not care. It is public streets so it is legal. Pretty sad really. Big government and Big Google, is it really that different any more?
They don’t actually have live cameras. They drive around in cars and take one-time photos. According to Engadget, they look like this.
Interesting and scary at the same time. While they are one time photos it still is creepy to think about IMO.