Google Street View

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article -1031861/Privacy-fears-Google-starts-snap-door -Britain.html

If you've found Google Earth, both interesting and useful, will this new "Google Street View" also be useful or intrusive?

[Kromovaracun]

Google Earth often has individual pictures taken from streets posted around on it (nothing this extensive though), which I have to admit I find useful.

Part of me wants to whinge about this, but then I just realise that I probably would use it, so I can't really talk.

[Gromit]

You have been able to view the top of your or someone elses house for a few years now, so why not the front or the side?
they should warn us first though, so I can Donkey Stone the step.

[naomi24]

At first glance, I thought 'why not?', but having thought about it a little more, my one concern would be that it may enable criminals to keep an eye on certain properties. I'm not up to speed at all on the technology of these things, and I'm probably barking completely up the wrong tree, but I presume there would be a time lapse, and if that time lapse was common knowledge, within a week or so a crook could easily find out when people were out on a regular basis. Far less obvious than hiding behind a lamp post, or sitting in a car all day to 'case a joint'. Or have I got the wrong idea?

[Kromovaracun]

I think they tend to take one snapshot every few months or so. I'm pretty sure that's how Google Earth works (but I haven't looked it up - that's just judging from experience - on GE you can still our old cars in our old house's driveway, when we moved last year).

[naomi24]

Ah .... thank you. I can't see a problem then.

[Ethel]

They haven't taken an up to date photo of my house for years on GoogleEarth - the photo has got to be at least 7 years old

[Chillum]

Try the Microsoft version.
http://maps.live.com/
Get down to street level (right click and select ) and look at the birds-eye views.
Much more recent, and you can rotate around several different views (if covered).
Some really smart technology in the likes of New York where images are mpped to 3d geometry from different views.
Mind-blowing what this will be like in the future.

[cazzz1975]

where I live on google earth is from autumn 2007