socialmedian: Meet Google Street View's Latest Weapon: A Tricycle

User-submitted headlines for this story

Clips

Meet Google Street View's Latest Weapon: A Tricycle

Source: paidContent:UK

May 18, 2009

Summary

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 cameras usually mounted on Google's road-travelling Vauxhall Astra cars, but is 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 (NSDQ: GOOG) to map UK castles, coastal paths, natural wonders, historic buildings and monuments, and sports stadia this summer.

Together, they will poll the public for map candidates in each category, with a second poll resulting in the three locations the trike will visit first. The bike is starting out in Genoa and, Google says: "Due to operational factors such as light levels and the weather (and what could be a pretty tired cyclist), the trike will only be in the UK for a limited time during the summer." See more pics here...