Tattered Page

I figured Google Streetview would be a regional novelty for quite some time… I still do… they just (more or less) included MY region in that novelty.  My friend over at ShinyObjects just noted that Google’s got Streetview running in Pittsburgh, PA now.

Privacy concerns aside, Google’s got a very interesting app here with streetview.  So many ways to harness this little feature. I’d be very surprised if their coders aren’t already looking at ways to incorporate this within their driving directions: so many people navigate by landmark, not oft-missing-street-signs.  Imagine if you could SEE a view of the intersection you need to turn right at, then CHOOSE a landmark (turn right at the Silver Drive-In) for yourself.

Then again, maybe GPS tools like the TomTom are already cutting into driving direction sites.  Had a chance to play with Tom… well, more accurately TomConnery (TomTom with a Sean Connery-ish voicepack) on my travel to New Jersey recently.  It’s remarkably good at getting you where you think you want to be. Of course, when you misread the destination address on a coffee-soaked printout of driving directions (wasn’t me), TomCon will take you to all sorts of fun places on the Jersey shore.

Back to Google maps / streetview. 

I’m going to have to take another look at the Maps API.  I hope they plan eventual support for archival data.  This could be incredibly interesting to someday choose a point and transition through the region’s development over time.  Heck, if archivists could add their own collections of images (approx coords of photographer, time, and facing) you could make a remarkably robust visual time capsule for a region.

It could also enhance search or desktop assistance. Imagine pulling up a hotel options for travel.  If address info appears on the page, a google taskbar or desktop could shoot an icon notifying you that a streetview shot is available near that address.  I’ve traveled enough to know that way hotels portray themselves often makes the “carefully framed” real-estate photos paragons of honesty.  With this, you can see the neighborhood, the proximity of the roads, the un-optimized exterior view, and so much more.

Of course, I’m still thinking too conventional.  I need to take a better look at this once the java juice has kicked in.  Maybe more later.

Thanks for the tip.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 at 1:40 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.