Google lets you scope your street

Posted on 19 Mar 2009 at 12:07

Google has launched Street View in the UK. The tool lets you view and navigate virtually through the streets of 25 cities in the UK, using 360 degree street-level imagery.

You can access Street View by zooming into the lowest level on Google Maps, or by dragging the Google "Pegman" icon on the left-hand side of the map onto a blue highlighted street.

Google said that the tool will help you identify meeting points, make travel plans, check out a restaurant or just explore and get to know your town better. Street View is also available in Google Earth and on Google Maps for Mobile.

The company constructed Street View by sending drivers around the UK to take pictures of streets and buildings. It used face detection technology to blur people's faces in the photos, and the company has blurred out vehicle licence plates as well.

Although some users have expressed reservations about Street View, claiming that it invades privacy and could help criminals burgle your home, Google has defended the tool, claiming that police in the US have already used Street View to find the location of a kidnapped child.

Street View was originally launched in May 2007 in the US. It is also available in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

UPDATE: Google has been forced to take down some of the images used in Street View, after receiving complaints from users.

Author: Dawinderpal Sahota

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