Google three-wheel school invasion
p2pnet news view Freedom | Advertising:-It doesn’t matter who, or where, you are, giant advertising company Google will find a way — a way to intrude into your life in its relentless search for user traffic it can convert into advertising dollars.
It’s SnoopMobiles are currently prowling the streets of the world in increasing numbers, snapping pics of peoples’ houses whether they like it or not.
Now, with a tricycle meant for Goo, the University of Pennsylvania is leading the way for a Google invasion of American universities —-
—- for starters.
Because you KNOW this is only the beginning.
The pic on the right is from pedicab.com which posts »»»
Google’s street-level mapping service hit some privacy bumps on its recent UK launch; now it’s going off-road. The Street View Trike packs the same 3D camera usually mounted on Google’s road-travelling Vauxhall Astra cars, but it’s instead fixed on a three-wheeled bike designed to negotiate footpaths and dirt tracks.
It’s a hook-up with tourism agency VisitBritain, which — unlike recent those who complained about invasion of privacy recently — has courted Google to map UK castles, coastal paths, natural wonders, historic buildings and monuments, and sports stadia this summer.
Now, similar GooCycles, mounted with 8-foot-high cameras, have been, “rolling around the pedestrian walkways of the University of Pennsylvania to collect panoramic images of the campus for Google Maps’ Street View feature,” says eSchool News, going on:
“Officials say the photos of Penn’s tree-lined Locust Walk mall and other places will allow prospective students and their parents to get a good feel for the campus, give incoming students a way to map out the best route to their classes–and let alumni fondly remember their school days.”
Riiight.
“This is a nice way for them to say ‘Hey, look, Street View: It’s really warm and fuzzy,’” the story has Search Engine Land’s Danny Sullivan stating.
“It’s not just about taking pictures of people’s houses. We can find these footpaths that people want to go on and walking areas, places people will like.”
Google Rulz. Everywhere. Resistance is futile.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
SnoopMobiles – Google Street View Canada invasion, June 18, 2009
pedicab.com – Meet Google Street View’s latest weapon: a tricycle, , June 3, 2009
eSchool News – Google Maps snaps views from college campuses, June 22, 2009
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June 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This is BS.
Streetview is really just a privacy invasion tech.
No one really needs to use it.
Google should kill this project as a cost saving measure and leave people alone.
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I never understood why people thought that the outside of their front yard was private. It was never private to begin with. People don’t close their eyes while they drive down your street.
I especially don’t understand this reaction in the UK. I always hear about the ten thousand government camera’s on most streets already. How is this any different? At least its not real time.
I must be missing something…
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hi Qix:
In Canada [where I live] we don’t have “ten thousand government camera’s on most streets already,” although I’m quite sure various entities would dearly love to change that.
Anyhow, have a look here http://www.p2pnet.net/story/23545
Cheers!
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I have to say I share Qix’s feelings on this one. While there are a lot of privacy concerns surrounding Google’s activities, I don’t think that Street View is the one to focus on – certainly not with the level of hysteria that seems to echo across the internet.
In my opinion, Google, and anybody else, is perfectly within their rights to drive down public roads and through public property, taking pictures of what is visible. The objection Jon raises in the linked story is that Google is using those images for commercial gain. While that is surely the case, it is indirect. Google is not taking those pictures and selling them back to you, they’re offering them to you for free (in order to continue to build their brand). I don’t see how that is different than any other company donating funds or equipment – it seems to be a positive partnership between public and private interests.
This doesn’t excuse other behavior, like GooMobiles driving down clearly marked private drives, but I think the core idea is sound. Nor do I think Paul McCartney is justified in wanting his house blocked out. I am perfectly free to navigate to that address if I so choose, and I think it follows that I should be able to view what I could see from the street online.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hey SteelWolf:
Your comment suggests this is a primary focus. It isn’t. It just happens to be an example of Google taking yet another liberty.
I’m not saying it should be barred from foisting Street View. But I am saying no one should have been Opted In without their express consent. And I’ll keep on saying it. And the same thing should apply to everything Google does.
Cheers!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
SteelWolf said: “I don’t see how that is different than any other company donating funds or equipment”
What if the donor only gave the goods on condition of you relieving yourself of some privacy?
What if this “free” product (ie. donation) is something many don’t want or care to have?
What if this “free” product (which I’m sure will be of value to business end-users of google-real-estate) is generating $ at the loss of your privacy?
What if this “free” donation is something people who don’t care for computers want?
What if this “free” virtual donation is something people who don’t care for computers, or don’t have a computer, don’t even know what it’s about?
Is it ok to just take w/o everyone knowing?
Sure are a lot of things hidden behind “free”.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
What “privacy?” The moment Google introduces Bedroom View, I’ll be all against it. Your homes are publicly visible, whether you like it or not.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Bedroom view would rock.
-Think of the furniture you could look at instead of waking to a store!
-Think of the bed-spread colors against different walls colors you could look at
-Think of how you could check if more people are hardwood floors or carpeting
All for FREE*!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:28 am
“I’m not saying it should be barred from foisting Street View. But I am saying no one should have been Opted In without their express consent. And I’ll keep on saying it. And the same thing should apply to everything Google does.”
Here’s what Street View would look like if they were required to get everyone’s consent before using publically taken photos;
http://i39.tinypic.com/2m4yvq9.jpg
June 24th, 2009 at 8:15 am
“Here’s what Street View would look like …”
heh. Good one.
Cheers!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I think that Reader’s Write has the right point. The outside of your house is not private and there is no reasonable expectation that it is. It seems to me that anything visible from public property is fair game to be photographed and used for any purpose – am I wrong in thinking this?
I do think that Google has made mistakes in this project, but I think the spirit of the project is fine – an opinion that seems to run contrary to that of many sites I nearly always agree with. Personally, I am much more concerned about projects like Google Health and Google’s Chrome browser/user tracking tool.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:15 am
It seems to me that one shouldn’t be required to ask permission to photograph something anybody can see with their eyes no problem. Insides of buildings, gated or private drives, building complexes – those all are unavailable to pedestrians and any Google-led photography of them absolutely needs to be “explicit permission required.” But something you can clearly see just walking down the street? That’s what hedges are for.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:24 am
“Google Health and Google’s Chrome browser/user tracking tool”
Street View is just a part of the same parcel. IMO, nothing Google does is separate from other elements.
Cheers!
June 24th, 2009 at 11:35 am
The Google street van can be annoying, but I don’t think they are as bad as the press. Just have a newsworthy tragedy happen to your family, and they will be camped out on your lawn stuffing a mic in your face asking “How do you feel”.