Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How Google Street View Keeps an Eye on Things Where There Are No Streets (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the we're-just-curious-not-snoopy-or-evil dept.

It's not called Google Grand Canyon View, but Street View can show you what the canyon looks like even though there are no streets there -- or in the Meteor Crater or thousands of other places Google Street View Cars or tricycles or other vehicles can't go. How? With a 40 pound, human-carried version of the camera rig in the cars, complete with GPS and a "pause" button in case the human motive power system needs to take a break. But, asks Slashdot's Tim Lord, what about new, small cameras? Like GoPro? Don't they make the Trekker rig kind of obsolete? Well... Google's always working on "new and improved" everything, so the next version of the Trekker is likely to be kind of interesting.

2 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Re:40 pounds carried? by simonbp · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not if you keep to the trails, and stay hydrated. The vast majority of deaths/serious injuries are people leaving the trails or look out points and falling. Or not looking where they are going and walking off a cliff. Or just generally being dumbasses. If you obey the signs, it's perfectly safe, even with a 40+ pound pack/camera rig.

  2. No such thing as a stupid question, my ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    But, asks Slashdot's Tim Lord, what about new, small cameras? Like GoPro? Don't they make the Trekker rig kind of obsolete?

    The cameras on the Trekker *are* pretty small, you twit. The rig not only records and synchronizes the view from several "gopro equivalent" cameras but it records attitude and position in realtime, and provides a way to record for long intervals without running out of storage space or energy (for the electronics). Strap a GoPro to your head and try to make streetview out of it some time.