Street View is celebrating: Google’s tool turns nothing more and nothing less than 15 years, and wanted to take advantage of the occasion to present its novelties. These are: the launch of its new camera, the possibility of “traveling in time” by accessing images from previous years and the creation of a more immersive map.
A new camera with which to go further
The Street View team has been characterized by its creativity in finding ways to capture the images of the various points of the globe over the years. The peculiarities of each terrain have not been an obstacle for them, they have been able to adapt and seek solutions. From installing cameras on snowmobiles to having Google’s collaborators carry them with them.
Now, Street View is developing a new camera designed to make these tasks easier, regardless of the space in which the photographs have to be taken, and that can be managed from a mobile device. Its implementation will be fully realized in 2023.
This camera integrates all the power, resolution and processing capabilities present in a Street View carnow compacted in a nice system that is much more comfortable, smaller and more portable, given that it only weighs seven kilos.
Another advantage that this prototype incorporates is its adaptability and customization capacity. Unlike previous systems, this allows you to install all the necessary components to take the photos according to your needs, such as adapting the lidar or laser scanner to capture more details such as lane markings or potholes. This feature also works the other way around, the camera can be attached to the roof racks of any vehicle.
Time travel will be possible thanks to Street View
This tool allows us to explore the world and discover remote places from our homes, but now those who have Android and iOS will also be able to go back in time. This new function does not allow to travel many years back, only until 2007, the year Street View was created. However, it is a period in which changes can be seen, such as the evolution of the construction of the Hudson Yards Vessel in New York, or discover how your city has changed in these 15 years.
To enjoy this function you only have to go to the image you want to see and click on it to bring up the information section. Once this is done, click on “see more dates” to access this time capsule.
Creating a more useful and immersive map
In the last three years, Google has used AI to improve the user experience, making more than 25 billion updates to Maps. Currently, they continue to implement improvements and combining artificial intelligence with street view images to continue refining the results displayed on Google Maps, so that they reflect today.
Advances in AI and computer vision make it possible to merge billions of aerial and street view images to create a digital model of places around the world. At the end of this 2022 the new immersive viewwith which it will be possible to locate yourself at the street level of Maps and appreciate many more details, even being able to see the interior of a shop, obtaining more information about the places before moving to them.
History of Street View
street view born in 2007, fruit of the then crazy idea of its founder Larry Page to create a 360º map of the entire world on a digital level. That year, the cities of San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, Miami and Denver became the first to have images shared on Google’s tool.
Page not only managed to make his dream come true, but to this day, that dream is made up of more than 220,000 million images corresponding to more than 100 countries and territories. These photos come from two different sources: the Street View cars themselves (which have traveled more than 16 million kilometers, which is equivalent to having traveled more than 400 times around the Earth) and their collaborators.
What is Street View for?
When we think of Street View, the most “classic” function comes to mind, using it to check locations, routes or search for certain places. However, Street View can be a great for business if they know how to make the most of it.
Company profile files on Google are essential, they provide relevant information that may be of interest or help to your customers. In addition, companies that present complete records have a 78% more likely to be perceived as solid by their audiences according to Google data. On the other hand, considering that 41% of business searches on Google Maps lead to a visit to the physical store by users, keeping an updated and attractive listing will make a difference.
Street View offers the perfect solution to boost your business, including images and tours will motivate your customers to make their purchases in your physical store, since the more information they receive at the time of search, the more predisposition they will show. 62% of users prefer listings that include images of the interior of the stores. In addition, Street View offers you the possibility of contacting your trusted photographers or getting them with the tool to create your own content.
How to use StreetView
If you wonder how to enter Street View, don’t worry, we’ll explain it to you! There are two ways to access this tool, from the Street View app itself and from Google Maps. In the first case, you only have to download the application and start using it, in the second, you must access Maps and, from there, the dynamics vary slightly depending on the device from which you connect.
Computer
Once Google Maps is open, you only have to enter the address that interests you in the search engine so that it redirects you to it. After this, locate a yellow figure in the lower right corner of your screen, click on it and drag it to the point you want to observe in Street View and drop it on it.
Android and Apple devices
Although Apple also has its own version of , it is also possible to download Google Maps on your devices and, therefore, access Street View.
In this case, there are several ways to access Street View through Google Maps from your mobile or tablet, whether Android or Apple, but don’t panic, each one is easier than the previous one.
- Search for an address or place a pin: Search for a specific place or place a pin on the map by pressing the area you want to see until the red marker appears. Once this is done, click on the box that will appear at the bottom of your screen on the address of the place and in which there is a small arrow turning on itself.
- Press a place marker: directly press a place marker from those that are already predetermined on the map and click on the box with the arrow mentioned above.
- Use the layers: press the layers icon that appears at the top right of the screen, and in the “map details” section, select the “Street View” option. The characteristic blue lines of this function will appear, to finish activating it you will only have to press on the point of these lines that you want to see in Street View.
Caught Street View
Over the years Street View has taken millions of photos, from various points on Earth, including from space and the deep sea. So it is not surprising that the odd image of the most peculiar has appeared. An example of this is the one with a horse mask eating a banana in Canada.
Image: Street View
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