“Being able to share our home with the world is amazing,” said Ryan Morales, country marketing manager of Google Philippines during the launch of Street View.
Street View is Google Maps in photos.
Sometimes, maps are not enough especially when they are not always updated. Apart from knowing the location of one’s destination, knowing how it looks like makes it easier to navigate the streets.
When using Google Maps, users will have the option to visually explore what they have searched for. To access images, just drag the orange “Pegman” icon on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. Once the icon is hovering over the map, the streets where Street View is available will be outlined in blue. Users can see the street on 360-degree panoramas.
Google Philippines launched Street View driving in January 2014. After scouring and photographing popular historical sites and tourist destinations in the country, Google is now making it available officially.
Trekker
“Street View provides much more than navigation,” Morales said, “Explore the country in high tech and immersive imagery.”
The images were taken using “special cameras” fitted in cars. There is also a 42-pound trekker installed with 15 cameras that anyone (with a strong back) can carry to take photos atop elevated spaces.
“We want Google Maps to be the most accurate and useful one in the world,” Morales said.
Ken Lingan, country manager of Google Philippines, said Street View has so far covered 40 cities and 30 historical sites. It has also covered Luzon’s highest peak of Mt. Pulag, which is popular among mountaineers.
While Google’s Street View will be most helpful to tourists and travelers, businesses are also expected to benefit from it.
Establishments can easily embed Google Maps onto their site. It would help customers find their location easily.
Privacy
As the Google Street View car or trekker navigates busy urban areas, it cannot be helped that cameras capture people. Google has reiterated its respect for privacy and said in the statement that it would blur faces in the photographs.
“Street View only features photographs taken on public property and the imagery is no different from what a person can readily see or capture walking down the street,” the statement said.
Inappropriate images can also be reported using “Report a Problem” link on the map page.
The Street View Car has covered key cities in Metro Manila and areas in Northern Luzon. The Trekker, on the other hand, has visited sites historical and heritage sites also in Metro Manila to as far as The Gigantes Islands.
Underwater Street View is also available, according to Gail Tan, country communications manager of Google Philippines. She also mentioned the availability of an app that can take special collection updates right on Street View. RC
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