Huckleberries Online

Column: Streetview Goes Viral

Posted by DFO

Dec. 11, 2009 8:19 a.m. • 6 comments

Big brother is at it again, and by big brother I mean Google, of course. Its popular mapping software has been one of the company’s staples for the past five years, giving ordinary citizens the power of God to spy on any location with its popular street view, as well as giving new meaning to the phrase, “Hey, I can see my house from here.” Up until recently, small suburbs, alleyway apartments and remote locations that were too small for the ever-roaming Google mapping cars to get to, were safe from Google’s ever-expanding web. However, I am here to introduce to you the most horrifying piece of technology ever witnessed, one that will make every street, avenue, alley and remote part of the world visible: The Google Trike/Ilya Pinchuk, UIdaho Argonaut. More here.

Question: Does Google spy-in-the-skyware make you nervous?

Six comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Bree on December 11 at 8:36 a.m.
It’s not like you’re viewing the streets live. You’re viewing a snapshot. So I don’t see a big deal. It’s not really spying.

I found it very useful to see the location of my new house and my new neighborhood thousands of miles away before I move there.
Lynne on December 11 at 8:49 a.m.
Does Google spy-in-the-skyware make you nervous?

Nope
Digger on December 11 at 9:22 a.m.
Not nervous.

Lazy, yes, especially once they start photomapping trails and such. Why not go bike the trail yourself? It’d be like ordering a walking stick off the internet instead of visiting Stickman. :-)
fortboise on December 11 at 9:23 a.m.
It is slightly creepy, but the occasional still photograph taken by a passing vehicle is not as creepy as what medical and credit reporting agencies can dig up about us, and “share” at the drop of a hat.
Don_Sausser on December 11 at 12:16 p.m.
No, but for a better look see:

http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/google-trike.jpg
Matthew_Behringer on December 11 at 1:03 p.m.
As a huge mapping buff the street view trike I think is exciting,I got to see it in use out by the Shell station at Pleasant View and I-90 in PF I do agree though it does make one lazier I have even heard the Centennial Trail is getting street view sometime soon but it sure is nice if I want to go to place I’ve never been to look it up and see it first,works great with Hotels and buying a home too. I think it’s crazy to be upset over it you can find a lot worse then still images of one home.

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.