Google captures views of everyday life across Bay
INTERNET giant Google has released its Street View software providing a detailed, road-by-road, bird's eye view of the Bay.
The black car, which toured South Devon last year compiling data and film for the incredible online and mobile mapping system, managed to capture snippets of everyday life in the area.
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SUMMER'S AFTERNOON: People relax on Babbacombe Downs GoogleStreet
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TIME WARP: The view of the Princess Theatre from one side of the road says it is November while, from the other side of the street, it is April GoogleStreet
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CHANGE IN WEATHER: The HighFlyer balloon on an overcast day, left, and in the spring GoogleStreet
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SUMMER SCENE: The bottom of Fleet Street, Torquay in the summer. GoogleStreet features a Christmas street scene viewed from the other side of the road GoogleStreet
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CAUGHT ON FILM: A speed camera set up on Corbyn Head, Torquay GoogleStreet
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PARKING TICKET: A parking attendant outside Torquay Job Centre GoogleStreet
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POLICE, CAMERA, ACTION: Torquay CID GoogleStreet
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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Herald Express reporter Paul Greaves can be seen on the telephone outside Torquay Magistrates' Court GoogleStreet
People's washing hangs blowing in the wind, while police officers have been snapped leaving Torquay's crime investigation department and children and dog walkers were spotted enjoying some of the area's beauty spots.
All of this visual cartography has taken time.
So much time, in fact, that if you look at the controversial balloon on Torre Abbey Sands from different sides of the street it seems to have been captured in two different seasons.
In one image, white snowdrops litter the ground while the balloon is in the air.
But from the other side of the street the balloon isn't flying and there is a distinct absence of the early spring flowers that emerge as the season starts to change.
The same goes for the Princess Theatre, where one side of the road was captured in November and the other in April.
The camera even managed to capture Herald Express reporter Paul Greaves on the phone outside of Torquay Magistrates' Court.
Babbacombe Downs appear in glorious sunshine, whereas Union Street is pictured on bin collection day with bags in the street.
In Totnes, the Tor Homes Culverdale development hasn't even started yet and is pictured in frosty, early morning sunshine as a man rides his bicycle down Bridgetown Hill.
At present, the old bungalows have been demolished and a mound of Devon red soil is piled up at the side of the development.
A Midas development at the rear of the Civic Hall in the South Hams town is still not complete, according to the new online street guide.
The images were captured by the distinctive car that had a camera mounted on its roof.
Ed Parsons, Google's geospatial technologist, said "Street View takes mapping to a new level not possible before."
A Google spokesman added: "People can check out a restaurant before arriving, make travel plans, arrange meeting points, get a helping hand with geography homework, or just get to know their town better."
Apart from the odd missing street, people will be able to view and explore 360 degree street-level imagery of places from around South Devon, including Dartmoor.
Faces and number places are automatically blurred and residents can request their home to be removed.
You can browse for yourself at
maps.google.co.uk
5 Comments
by Mrs Dixon, Paignton
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:00PM
“I was sunbathing in my garden at the time the Google car went past and its camera was high enough to see over the hedge ! While my face was blurred my bosoms weren't and are there on display for all to see !”
by ARTHUR, Paignton
Monday, March 15 2010, 4:35PM
“Angela, I must say I was on site myself for a few hours, and faces and car reg' ect was blurred out. But I did see my nephew in Runcorn in his driveway, face blurred, but then it always is,lol I knew it was him by his baldy head. He finds it amusing, but not his baldy head!!!”
by Angela, Roundham
Monday, March 15 2010, 3:39PM
“I've just looked at a friend's place on Street View. His car in his drive has its number blurred as are those of his neighbours, so what exactly is the problem here?”
by Arthur, paignton
Monday, March 15 2010, 2:32PM
“Nap of the day, some one will always complain about something!!! I saw some one pass my house, he could see the number on my door, because I had inadvertently forgot to cover it up. This person could also see my car's registration number, yes I forgot to cover that up as well!! After a few minutes had elapsed I was astonished, that er, er absolutely nothing had happened. I am so disappointed!!!!”
by Toby, Torquay
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:12AM
“Shame the company that runs this doesn't blur the registration numbers of vehicles shown in garages off roads. A friend of mine has a very expensive motorbike that has been caught on camera in a garage that opens directly out on to the road. The number plate is clearly visibly, as is the address, as is my friend who was standing outside his property at the time the camera car passed by.
Recommend everyone checks their own properties for security/privacy breaches and report them to Google as a matter of urgency, since whilst the system is absolutely fascinating, it provides a superb tool for any house burglar or vehicle thief to plan their next ill gotten haul.”