[SkateDC] Neither Here Nor There, Fun With Google Maps [Off Topic]

[George Marinkovich]

Google Maps directions are relied on by a great number of people.  However, it is well to remember Google Maps cannot accept responsibility for your failure to come to a complete stop prior to reaching your final destination...

http://tinyurl.com/6acrta

A "real" Google Map marker:  http://vimeo.com/1179879

In May 25, 2007 Google introduced Street View.  Since then things have never been the same.

"Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps and Google Earth that provides 360° horizontal and 290° vertical panoramic street level views and allows users to view parts of some regions of the world at ground level.  

Google Street View displays photos taken from a fleet of Chevrolet Cobalts in United States and Opel Astras in Europe, mounted with spherical cameras and placed in 'image orbs' within Google's maps, displayed against the backdrop of images previously taken from satellite that make up Google's maps. These 'image orbs' can be navigated using either the arrow keys on the keyboard or by using a mouse to click on arrows displayed on the screen. Using these devices, the photos can be viewed in different sizes, from any direction, and from a variety of angles. Lines that are displayed along the street that is shown indicate the direction followed by that street view camera car." -- http://tinyurl.com/32cdmb

There is a fleet of Google Street View Cars (aka GooCars) driving around the world taking snapshots of every block of every street on the globe.  Sometimes however, things don’t roll the way they are supposed to:

The United States Park Police vs. the Google Maps Car:  http://tinyurl.com/5dzdy2

GooCar vs. Inline Skater:  http://tinyurl.com/6ppoka

Woman (Unsuccessfully) Flashes Chest at Street View Car:  http://tinyurl.com/5rkp67

The marriage proposal, version 2.0:  http://tinyurl.com/659qok

Google maps car hits a deer, records it all (and the deer survived!):  http://tinyurl.com/bfpkja

Automobile Accident – Street View is on the road so comprehensively for an area that it was nearly inevitable that it would happen upon an accident like this car crash: http://tinyurl.com/culy3h

The Google Street View van stops to pay the tollbooth operator, or does he?: http://tinyurl.com/bk4rf7

Where is all this heading?  Welcome to the brave new world of "The Googling":  http://tinyurl.com/yvuhr9

The remaining 4 parts of "The Googling" Series (Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/5ca73d, Part 3: http://tinyurl.com/66xshp, Part 4: http://tinyurl.com/66xshp, Part 5: http://tinyurl.com/659ytf)

Cheers,
George