Google`s "Street View" is actually a "Human View"of the world we see !

It was May 29, 2007 when google launched its new street search called "Street View" in selected cities of USA.
Why is it that whatever new feature google launches become an instant hit. Everybody says "Oh my Gosh, I really wanted this ?" These all are simple and superb ideas which help us to navigate through life more conveniently.

Street View is such a simple concept where user is able to see the images of the street from a view equal to driving a car or bike or better walking.

Look at the video below to find out what it can do ?
This is the demo from Google to explain what wonder can this thing can do when stitched together on Google Map Service.



When I saw it I got very curious about "How do they do it ?".First of all how can they take such snaps ? I could understand the satellite view maps are taken by satellite but Street Views ? How ? I soon discovered the trick.Those snaps are actully taken by a automatic 11 lens camera mounted on a top of a car running through the streets and clicking the roads.The camera is called Dodeca 360 which takes the snap and also records GPS co-ordinates for that place. I heard that the camera is 100 mega pixel camera which takes 30 frames per second. Google don`t do it themselves.A company named Immersive Media gets thsi job done for Google.Ths camera is capable of giving 360 degree view + Top view(i.e if you are on your vehicle then using this View you can see all the sides except just below you.) Excellent views, what else we can demand for ? Yes for Google map to have all the maps of the world they have to run the car throughout the world streets to ge it included in the map. Well its a hard way to do, but there is no shortcut for such tasks. The images are so crisp that you can read the Car Parking timings, hoardings and all which we can`t even see through naked eyes. Simply great. See the images of the car and the camera below, the real hero behind the "Street View"

The car carrying that Super-Camera:


The 11 lens camera at the top of vehicle:



We can guess where the future is going. First there were Paper Maps with rough maps. Since that was not enough more detailed street name maps came up. Then the digital form of it with Google Maps. While that was not enough there came satellite images and now street views. Still these are static images of the world we see.I guess with this pace people will wish that they could see the real 3D world that too in real time. Ya you guessed right for that you will require Video Camera shots from every nook and corner of the world instead of static images short and like we stitched images we will stitch videos to see everything come to life, real. Well just an imagination :)

We sometimes think that everything in technology is rocket science which is in reality based on such a simple aspect or idea on which Street view is based on. This street View concept is still new in the US, not even avilable in Japan, Europe yet, and Google is trying to cover US streets as far as possible.

Will such views will come to India too ? Not sure, since the present google earth or Microsoft`s Virtual Earth poses a danger to National Security. If this is done, then it may add to the trouble if we view it from sercurity aspects. What do you think ? Do we not deserve such detailed navigation in India too or should we found out some other way ? What can be that way ? If you have some inputs please share it here. Japanese people too feel a bit insecure with such detailed maps.

While the world politics and security related people are defending their stance, Google is buying companies like one goes for grocerry shopping. History proves that google has always bought the best of the lot like Youtube, Blogger, Writely, Panaromic and what not.And also finding it new ways to make the search as easy as posssible. Street View is just one more example to it.

P.S
Earthmine way of collecting data.


Updated; I came to know about few such street video technologies like

http://www.immersivemedia.com
http://www.yellowbirdsdonthavewingsbuttheyflytomakeyouexperiencea3dreality.com/

When I wrote the above article was not aware of such services.