Google Street View comes to Gloucestershire
Google’s street-level imaging service has been extended to cover more than 95% of UK roads.
The new coverage includes detailed images of Gloucestershire.
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Google
From tomorrow, 360-degree pictures from Penzance to the Shetland islands will go online, encompassing nearly a quarter of a million miles of British roads.
Article continues below:
Google’s Street View service has been available in 25 cities since last March, but the increased coverage makes an additional 210,000 miles of detailed mapping public.
Street View images are captured by Google’s car, fitted with a special panoramic camera on its roof. Pedestrianised areas were shot with Google’s tricycle, including Stonehenge and the banks of Loch Ness.
Despite featuring images visible only from public roads, Street View has attracted critics who believe the detailed street-level information could be exploited by criminals.
Google has taken steps to preserve anonymity. Its technology automatically blurs number plates and faces and users can ask for their homes or cars to be removed.
Google believes the service will be a boost for UK businesses, which can embed its maps into their own sites for free. For example, a bed and breakfast owner can promote the local area by offering potential customers a virtual stroll through its streets.
Tomorrow’s launch means the UK will catch up with other European countries - such as Spain, France, and Italy – which already boast nationwide coverage.
Because Street View images look best in dry, overcast conditions, Google said its biggest challenge in the UK was the weather.
What do you think of the new service - have your say using the story comment facility below.
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by MC adjudicator, MCHQ
Thursday, March 11 2010, 2:47PM
“The Ref, FoD:
You're right about standee's final move. Well, you're almost right.
You will note that standee declared a 'minding the gap' (Diagon Alley in this instance). If not countered immediately, this entitles one to a single gap-skip or jump.
Standee's proximity to Mornington Crecent (see Google Street View) was evidently a pure fluke, but entirely legal.”
by sceptical, cleeve
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:12PM
“"I think it's highly invasive , and glad I don't live in a remote spot .
Sandra, Gloucester"
Why is it invasive? Its just a picture of your house and anyone can take a photo or video image from the public highway unless specifically forbidden such as by the Official Secrets Act.”
by Sandra, Gloucester
Thursday, March 11 2010, 9:08AM
“You can request an image to be removed ......... but it's up to Google to determine whether it should be or not ...........
I think it's highly invasive , and glad I don't live in a remote spot .”
by David Reynolds, Up Hatherley
Thursday, March 11 2010, 8:39AM
“I sat with a friend of mine-David Gale- as he Googled down to his daughter's street in Melbourne-describing to me as that's the bar he visits when over there-we spun the camera around to spot her car parked down the road and moved back to right outside her house-then rang her-and getting over the shock of our call-we said, "Did she know she had a flat-tyre on her car?" OH GOD! she yelled-how do you know? "Well we are looking at it now!!" "Sorry we're only joking!" Apparently she did go out and check the car - one born every minute!”
by Me , here, Gloucester
Thursday, March 11 2010, 7:53AM
“Having now seen it this morning it's very clear ....... but, it strikes me as a snoopers paradise !”
by big brother, glos
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:22PM
“I'm going to leave it showing my front door and when someone comes nocking i dont want to see i won't answer.”
by Alien Life UK, Here, I think
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:56PM
“Google Earth and Google Street View, how long before a department is set up in all the council offices to pry on properties for council tax purposes? Of course you do have the right to have your own home removed from the database, not a lot of people know that!”
by Will O'Patten, Wesh Dresser
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:21PM
“g Goucester. That is so bad, who were they shooting in the Reddings, will we be able to see it when it goes live?”
by blackdog, faraway
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 8:36PM
“Sorry to disappoint you, ChrisM, Cheltenham - but you may never find out.
Google Street View uses technology which should, (if it works correctly), blur faces (and most other identifiable personal data) out...
Sorry again...:)”
by ChrisM, Cheltenham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:43PM
“Well, looking forward to it, I know where I was when a car went past, I was fast enough to take a picture of them at the same time! Lets see if I remembered to say Cheeeeese!”