Google Street View
I’m not exactly sure when it was first introduced but Google Maps now has a handy little feature call “Street View”. Quite simply, look up any address in Google Maps, for example “Sydney Opera House” and Google will present you with a list of matches in the left hand margin. Select the closest match to get the appropriate view in right-hand map pane. Then click the “Street View” button and you’ll be presented with a street level view of the address.
Within the Street View pane you can zoom and pan in any direction. Handy visual cues let you know which street you’re in and the direction in which you’re facing. If you find you can’t quite get a good view of your desired location just drag the “view man” icon (yep, that’s my term for him) along any blue outlined street on the map to move the viewer position. You can also click the arrows with the viewer to move you position.
Check out the YouTube video for a brief overview.
Google Maps Street View Overview
I’m not sure of the privacy implications of such a service. For example, I looked up my own address only to find my clearly identifiable car sitting in the driveway. Fortunately the image quality is such that you can’t read the number plate. At least for now. Not usually one for conspiracy theories I have to say handy as this feature is, it does make my skin crawl just a little.
Examining viewer photos in a little more detail I realised that all shots are taken 2 or 3 meters above street level and always from the center of the street. This leads me to conclude that photos must have been taken from a vehicle which makes sense given the amount of time it would take to complete the task by foot.
One last note. In my search for more information on the service I happened across a Mashable post titled “Top 15 Google Street View Sightings“. Check it out. There’s some bizzare image renderings and some that are quite humorous. I wonder if the guy in photo two, assuming he’s up to no good, ever gotcharged based on “Street View” evidence.
