Google Street View

[cannon_fodder]

I was just curious of what people's opinions were of Google Map's new street map feature.  Essentially, it allows one to take a virtual tour of entire sections of some cities with real photographs.  Much like a VRML world.

This link is Times Square:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&layer=c&cbll=40.75859,-73.98509&cbp=1,16.9191318327974,0.5,0&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=40.760366,-73.984584&spn=0.006079,0.01133&z=17

By clicking and moving the little "Street View" man-icon around to any blue area on the map you can see a picture from there.   Or, while int he view mode, you can click on the direction arrows to move one 'frame' in that direction.  

Some people are raised privacy concerns as some embarrassing images have been found.  A man peeing along side the road, a woman with her thong pulled up the small of her back (I think some women do that on purpose now?), and a guy entering a porn shop.  Google has stated that a picture taken in public of any activity is public domain and there is no expectation of privacy.

Legally, they are correct.  But is Google sticking to its mantra of "do no evil?"

I think so.  I find this service very interesting and the offending pictures few and of little real harm.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was just curious of what people's opinions were of Google Map's new street map feature.  Essentially, it allows one to take a virtual tour of entire sections of some cities with real photographs.  Much like a VRML world.

This link is Times Square:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&layer=c&cbll=40.75859,-73.98509&cbp=1,16.9191318327974,0.5,0&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=40.760366,-73.984584&spn=0.006079,0.01133&z=17

By clicking and moving the little "Street View" man-icon around to any blue area on the map you can see a picture from there.   Or, while int he view mode, you can click on the direction arrows to move one 'frame' in that direction.  

Some people are raised privacy concerns as some embarrassing images have been found.  A man peeing along side the road, a woman with her thong pulled up the small of her back (I think some women do that on purpose now?), and a guy entering a porn shop.  Google has stated that a picture taken in public of any activity is public domain and there is no expectation of privacy.

Legally, they are correct.  But is Google sticking to its mantra of "do no evil?"

I think so.  I find this service very interesting and the offending pictures few and of little real harm.

Now: if taken from one of our extra special... super dooper.... spy satellites,  we could have heard your keystrokes while posting the topic.

[}:)] But still no Ben Forgotten?

[jamesrage]

enter 100 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 into the the google map search and see what is missing.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by jamesrage

enter 100 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 into the the google map search and see what is missing.

If you are referring to City Hall... place the map on Hybrid and move the map to the proper location of 100 Civic Center....

This sort of mistake is common with the google system.........

[}:)]

[cannon_fodder]

Lets see... plenty of surface parking - check.  Absence of traffic - check.  No noticeable people - check.  Federal Building still displayed - check.  

My god!  There are no bums outside of the YMCA. []

[Lister]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was just curious of what people's opinions were of Google Map's new street map feature.  Essentially, it allows one to take a virtual tour of entire sections of some cities with real photographs.  Much like a VRML world.

This link is Times Square:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&layer=c&cbll=40.75859,-73.98509&cbp=1,16.9191318327974,0.5,0&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=40.760366,-73.984584&spn=0.006079,0.01133&z=17

By clicking and moving the little "Street View" man-icon around to any blue area on the map you can see a picture from there.   Or, while int he view mode, you can click on the direction arrows to move one 'frame' in that direction.  

Some people are raised privacy concerns as some embarrassing images have been found.  A man peeing along side the road, a woman with her thong pulled up the small of her back (I think some women do that on purpose now?), and a guy entering a porn shop.  Google has stated that a picture taken in public of any activity is public domain and there is no expectation of privacy.

Legally, they are correct.  But is Google sticking to its mantra of "do no evil?"

I think so.  I find this service very interesting and the offending pictures few and of little real harm.

What I'm wondering is what is the source of these street level views? It can't be satellite, because even if it did have that kind of resolution, the angle is all wrong. Some of the pictures are literally looking at things from another person's perspective. Can someone tell me the source of the pictures?

[MichaelC]

quote:Originally posted by Lister

What I'm wondering is what is the source of these street level views? It can't be satellite, because even if it did have that kind of resolution, the angle is all wrong. Some of the pictures are literally looking at things from another person's perspective. Can someone tell me the source of the pictures?

With 99% certainty, I pretty much assume it's some local source contracted out to take panoramic pics of an intersection.  Whatever the view is, if it's a newer pic, it probably won't change for at least two years.

[Lister]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

quote:Originally posted by Lister

What I'm wondering is what is the source of these street level views? It can't be satellite, because even if it did have that kind of resolution, the angle is all wrong. Some of the pictures are literally looking at things from another person's perspective. Can someone tell me the source of the pictures?

With 99% certainty, I pretty much assume it's some local source contracted out to take panoramic pics of an intersection.  Whatever the view is, if it's a newer pic, it probably won't change for at least two years.

Thanks MichaelC. I guess they blur the pictures somewhat to make people "think" that it is actually taken from a satellite? I mean, if I were contracted to take a picture, I could certainly do better than the crappy quality of photos provided. I'm thinking they deliberately try and make it look that way..

[MichaelC]

Yeah.  Wouldn't be too difficult to take better pictures.

It's just a guess really.  Fits IMO.  It would be a logistical nightmare to take those pics without local contractors.

[cannon_fodder]

You are able to scroll down streets by clicking on the direction arrows within the pictures.  Also, the pictures are oriented on an known axis... so it is not donkey simple as taking a picture of an intersection.  These are a large series of 360 degree panoramas taken at the rate of 5 or 6 per block.

My guess would be a truck driving down the street with a camera on the top pointing up at a mirror that provides a 360 image to be decoded into a usable picture.  It would also be able to keep track of GPS coordinates so the picture would not have to be hand placed on the map and easily overlaid into Google maps (which uses long/lat coordinates).

[Lister]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

You are able to scroll down streets by clicking on the direction arrows within the pictures.  Also, the pictures are oriented on an known axis... so it is not donkey simple as taking a picture of an intersection.  These are a large series of 360 degree panoramas taken at the rate of 5 or 6 per block.

My guess would be a truck driving down the street with a camera on the top pointing up at a mirror that provides a 360 image to be decoded into a usable picture.  It would also be able to keep track of GPS coordinates so the picture would not have to be hand placed on the map and easily overlaid into Google maps (which uses long/lat coordinates).

Sounds like you probably nailed it on the head CF. Using the GPS to coordinate with Google Maps is a good idea.

[grahambino]

quote:Originally posted by Lister

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was just curious of what people's opinions were of Google Map's new street map feature.  Essentially, it allows one to take a virtual tour of entire sections of some cities with real photographs.  Much like a VRML world.

This link is Times Square:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&layer=c&cbll=40.75859,-73.98509&cbp=1,16.9191318327974,0.5,0&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=40.760366,-73.984584&spn=0.006079,0.01133&z=17

By clicking and moving the little "Street View" man-icon around to any blue area on the map you can see a picture from there.   Or, while int he view mode, you can click on the direction arrows to move one 'frame' in that direction.  

Some people are raised privacy concerns as some embarrassing images have been found.  A man peeing along side the road, a woman with her thong pulled up the small of her back (I think some women do that on purpose now?), and a guy entering a porn shop.  Google has stated that a picture taken in public of any activity is public domain and there is no expectation of privacy.

Legally, they are correct.  But is Google sticking to its mantra of "do no evil?"

I think so.  I find this service very interesting and the offending pictures few and of little real harm.

What I'm wondering is what is the source of these street level views? It can't be satellite, because even if it did have that kind of resolution, the angle is all wrong. Some of the pictures are literally looking at things from another person's perspective. Can someone tell me the source of the pictures?

i believe they canvassed the cities with a van with a special 360 degree camera mounted to the top of it.

as to the OP.  i think this is amazing technology, i can forsee so many uses for this in the field in which i work.  
i dont really see a problem with it, in terms of privacy issues.  walk down any street in any major city in america and you'll be on dozens of security cameras already.

[my98olds]

The vehicle can be found here
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/check-out-the-immersive-media-street-scanning-car/
I have heard about sightings of the Immersive Media VW Bug in Austin, TX so it looks like they will expand the coverage.

Google did use a van in San Francisco that had higher quality cameras.

Spam alert!
I do have a site where you can view, vote and submit your own interesting StreetView finds:
http://www.mapmole.com

[Lister]

Wow! Thanks everyone for answering my 64000 dollar question!

[BKDotCom]

It would appear many on this thread are confusing the satellite "birds eye" view images (yes they are taken via satellite) with the "street level" images that are only avail in about 5 cities right now (No surprise Tulsa isn't one of them).