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Riding Shotgun With the Google Street View Beetle
longacre writes "Popular Mechanics takes a ride in an Immersive Media VW Beetle, one of the six cars that drives around America shooting images for Google Maps Street View. Mounted on the roof is the $45,000 Dodeca 2360 video camera, whose 11 lenses record a 360 degree field of view at 30 frames per second, sucking up as many as 200 miles of city scenes per day. The setup takes up the whole back seat and part of the front passenger seat, and is all controlled with an off-the-shelf Logitech game controller. Includes a cool interactive raw video of a drive through Manhattan."
This reminds me of when Data talks about how he records everything that he sees, and what his maximum storage capacity is. I always wondered "What compression algorithms does he use for all that? At what frame rate does he record it?" I think Google will create Data before they create Skynet. After all, they've already taken the first step
I applaud your excellent argument.
Well maybe you should stop selling yourself on the streetcorner, or stop selling blow in front of a quickie mart.
why? isn't that our right as US citizens?
Should be no problem so long as they don't record a policeman performing his job duties.
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
Have you tried the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button?!
Wait until Google has enough data gathered on everyone.
Then it'll become the...
"Are you feeling lucky, punk?" button.
I've heard rumours these cars are handing out cookies so Google can track everybody!
ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
if they rigged up the interior with a lot of HDTVs so that the walls seemed to be transparent to anyone inside
Yes. If only there was some way we could make a solid, imovable, vertical surface transparent so that we could make parts of vehicles from it. We could then drive moving vehicles down the street without crashing and children could peer outside while travelling.
The techology may even become so cheap so that we could use it housing so theat we dont have to live in darkness in our homes. We good look outside through the transparent 'walls' and see the sun.
One day technology will find a way.
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beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
Police? Yes, I'd like to report a stolen camera.
The parking lot at seven eleven.
To buy a slushie.
The roof of my car.
It cost over forty grand.
A Volkswagon Beatle.
No no, the camera.
That's right, a slushie.
No, just a slushie.
I don't think they sell that.
Yes, the roof.
Really big. And it takes round pictures.
No, really, I haven't.
No, this isn't.
Balls? Only two.
Yes they are, but that's not what I meant by round pictures.
Well, I guess it is.
I'm sure it wouldn't fit.
Same to you.
Gary Dunn
Open Slate Project
You, sir, have uncovered the vital clue revealing the presence of the secret 12th lens! How careless of Google to let this subtlety slip. They were arrogant to believe that no one would notice, but that vice is often the downfall of the mighty. They think themselves the only keen intellects, but now they've met their match in CompMD.
"Believe me!" -- Donald Trump