By Nate Lanxon, 19 May 2009 17:00
NEWS
To advance its Street View service this summer, Google is poised to unleash the unstoppable power of human legs.
This summer, Google will deploy bikes mounted with its 360-degree Street View cameras to map areas of the UK inaccessible by its fleet of Street View cars.
The so-called Google Trike, which the company describes as "a mechanical masterpiece comprising three bicycle wheels, a mounted Street View camera and a very athletic cyclist in customised Google apparel", will arrive in the UK to make some "special image collections".
It's up to the public, however, to tell Google - via a vote - which locations should be photographed. There are five categories to choose from, picked by VisitBritain: castles, coastal paths, natural wonders, historic buildings and monuments and stadiums.
"Users will be able to virtually tour castles or monuments before visiting, or check out which side of a football stadium they need to be on before leaving the house," a Google spokeswoman told silicon.com sister site CNET UK. "They will be added to the Street View tool in the same way as existing images."
Comments
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1. John Maher
I await the Coast to Coast from this ....
2. TerryCee
Beachy Head in a Force 8 Northerly! I hear the aeriel scenes are to die for . . . and it would give the tech savvy robbers something to ponder on between viewing people's back gardens.
Oh, and can I be informed if they come into my area. I need to stock up on mellow fruit and veg . . .
3. anonymous
What a they doing on coastal paths, cycling is not allowed, its in the name, coastal PATH