Google streetview

[Ruprect]

What does the panel think then? Excellent and useful technology? Further electronic intrusion into our lives?

No poll. Discuss.

[Board Game Geek]

I had a play with it today.

(Google Earth, before anyone makes any smutty jokes)

Crashed IE a few times.

Was disappointed that it didn't cover the whole of the UK.

I do like the idea of getting a feel for a place before you go there.

Eg, I've never been to Kew Gardens, but with Streetview and Hybrid/Satellite view I can get a good enough look around to save me bothering to go there.

I also did a 5 minute tour of Greenwich Observatory, from the comfort of my armchair. That's saved me several hours messing about on transports, paying ridiculous food prices, queues, etc.

Brilliant as far as I am concerned...

[lightng]

I decided to take a tour of Craggy Island on google streetview. I spent hours trying to find father Ted's gaff then I spotted a mono-browed delinquent in an "I shot JR" t-shirt. I knew exactly where to go after that.

[Ruprect]

I do like the idea of getting a feel for a place before you go there.

Eg, I've never been to Kew Gardens, but with Streetview and Hybrid/Satellite view I can get a good enough look around to save me bothering to go there.

I also did a 5 minute tour of Greenwich Observatory, from the comfort of my armchair. That's saved me several hours messing about on transports, paying ridiculous food prices, queues, etc.

Now I'm not one to subscribe to the whole "we're constantly under the threat of terrorism" type sh it that government and media peddle, but surely this makes it a whole lot easier to perform reconnaisance, even if it is purfunctory "rule it out" type.... which would ergo speed up the TTL of any would be terrorist act no?

[Board Game Geek]

Now I'm not one to subscribe to the whole "we're constantly under the threat of terrorism" type sh it that government and media peddle, but surely this makes it a whole lot easier to perform reconnaisance, even if it is purfunctory "rule it out" type.... which would ergo speed up the TTL of any would be terrorist act no?

Well reconnaisance is a vital part of operation planning, however, a potential terrorist would still visit these locations prior to an operation, to see things the static recon cannot see, eg, dynamic security movements, new constructions and changes to the site, etc.

Which essentially means that any terrorist using the Google Streetview solely to plan an operation is not a very smart one, and has a very high chance of mission failure.

Personally, I'd had Photoshopped some of the images to deter terrorists and feed them disinformation.

However, I think the A-Team, Airwolf, Judge Dredd and the X-Men lounging around the Houses of Parliament might be a bit suspicious.

[Ruprect]

Well reconnaisance is a vital part of operation planning, however, a potential terrorist would still visit these locations prior to an operation, to see things the static recon cannot see, eg, dynamic security movements, new constructions and changes to the site, etc.

Which essentially means that any terrorist using the Google Streetview solely to plan an operation is not a very smart one, and has a very high chance of mission failure.

Personally, I'd had Photoshopped some of the images to deter terrorists and feed them disinformation.

However, I think the A-Team, Airwolf, Judge Dredd and the X-Men lounging around the Houses of Parliament might be a bit suspicious.

That was the "rule it out" point I made above. If they can rule out targets quickly then they can spend more time on ones they haven't ruled out, and there will be a quicker "time to market" as it were.

[scooterscot]

Well funny this is mentioned.

I as just looking at it today and sure enough I can see myself sat in the lounge working away.

Does no bother me really but I've no idea who it benefits.

Flight boarding!

[zara_backdog]

Like the way they have 'blanked' out car reg numbers.

[PRC1964]

Like the way they have 'blanked' out car reg numbers.

Yes. When it works. It doesn't always though.

[d000hg]

Yes. When it works. It doesn't always though.

Don't know if the UK version does it, but the US one blurs faces too.

It also blurs things it thinks are faces.
When you think of it, that's really impressive on the pattern recognition... it's TOO clever...