Google Street View: Maps now zooms to house level

Written by Alwyn Davis

Thursday, 31 May 2007

In continuing moves to push the envelope of web technology, Google recently launched 'Street View ' an add-on feature to Google Maps, that allows users to view 360 degree photographs of locations. One visistor, however, has pointed out that one particular image provides a glimpse directly into her house.

Street View works by allowing visitors to the Google Maps site to move a yellow icon around the screen, and displaying a 'fish-eye' view (panoramic images, stitched together to form a 360 degree, rotateable image) of that location. The feature is only available in selected US cities at this stage, but provides a fascinating glimpse into the possibilities of the Google Maps engine.

In one example, a visitor can navigate to New Work, zoom down to a street map view and check out Madison Avenue , all without leaving their chair.

The possible downside to this new technology however, is the invasion of privacy.  As one astute reader on the blog Boing Boing found, Street View provided an image through a window and into her house, along with her cat perched on the ledge. Others have also pointed out the possibilities of license plates on cars parked in driveways and identifiable photos of people walking past.

Google has made some attempt to allow for this, with a "Report inappropriate image" link allowing users to do exactly that. How will this will work is yet to be seen.