Altered Google Earth Tracks Cars, People

By Kevin Parrish, published on September 30, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , | Themes: The Internet, Software
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Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have developed a method to import real-time information into applications such as Google Earth and other "aerial earth maps" (pdf). The revelation could be interpreted in two ways: fascinating in that viewers can zoom in and check out a local game of soccer, or super frightening in that such programs can track cars and even people. Heck, even clouds will no longer remain anonymous.

Popular Science reports that the researchers use live video feeds in order to discover the position and motion of various objects, sometimes incorporating various angles from multiple cameras. Combined with behavioral simulations, the video helps to create realistic, real-time animation, especially when viewing human figures or moving cars.

In a video demonstration, the Georgia Tech researchers zoomed down to the Atlanta freeways and showed actual traffic speeding along the tar plains. The video even zoomed down to a local game of soccer, and even sported multiple viewports provided by various video feeds. Viewers can even check out pedestrians walking along sidewalks. Granted the virtual versions of humans and cars don't sport HD detail, the overall point of loud and clear: this technology can track anyone, anywhere.

"We have presented a novel prototype system to augment dynamic virtual cities based on real-world observations," the researchers said in their paper. "We hope that our approach opens doors for interesting forms of new augmented virtual realism."

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Comments

burnley14 10/01/2009 12:15 PM
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Wow, this is terrifying.

joeman42 10/01/2009 12:17 PM
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I guess I'll have to walk around covered in wax paper to get that blurred out effect.

El_Capitan 10/01/2009 12:23 PM
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Has anyone found Waldo yet?

kelfen 10/01/2009 12:25 PM
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El_Capitan :
Has anyone found Waldo yet?


he is hiding because of Chuck Norris

MDillenbeck 10/01/2009 12:38 PM
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Maybe now people will realize when you are in public what you do is... um... public. For those who don't like this tech, wait til it is used to track someone who committed murder or a major theft. Like ID cards, it is another way to track you - but having more ability to track does come with some advantages (like using cell phone gps to locate a kidnapping victim)...

doomtomb 10/01/2009 12:48 PM
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I think this technology sounds pretty cool. Sure, some desperate pathetic person could track you in theory but seriously, I wouldn't give a shit if they tried. Ok, so you watch somehow walk into a building then what, oh ok. I just hope the usefulness of this technology doesn't get eclipsed by more rules and limitations.

trinix 10/01/2009 12:58 PM
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Or going to certain bars and reading all about person X going to such a bar. Going to the library and having people see what kind of books you read, like 1984.

The idea of having nothing to hide doesn't hold it for me. And the extra safety we get from these kind of rules don't make me feel safer. Tbh I'm not feeling safer, I'm actually feeling being watched. Unsafe because my life is public, people will use this to my disadvantage to save people. I'm not willing to give up my freedom for this little bit of safety. Big Brother isn't the solution.

warmon6 10/01/2009 1:02 AM
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socrates047 10/01/2009 1:03 AM
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhh SKYNET IS BEHIND THIS, HEED MY WARNING, I COME FROM THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

maddad 10/01/2009 1:06 AM
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This is not something that we need. The last thing we need is the government using this type of technology to "ensure" our safety. Yeah right. Been working for the government for better than 27 years now in one form or another. (including 20 yrs in the military) The one thing I have learned about the government in all that time is not to trust them. Why do I work for them? I like to be where I can keep my eye on what they/we are doing. Oh and when the hackers get hold of it, they can make money by selling it to all the sex fiends and criminals so that they can watch you leave your house and watch you while you are gone. If you leave where you are to come back home they can just tell the thieves you are on your way back. You won't know who might be watching your 5 year old daughter playing in the yard and biding there time. Be careful what you wish for.

kingnoobe 10/01/2009 1:06 AM
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warezme 10/01/2009 1:14 AM
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mr_tuel 10/01/2009 2:11 AM
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domenic 10/01/2009 2:17 AM
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If this technology is (almost) available to the public, just imagine what the CIA has.

cruiseoveride 10/01/2009 2:28 AM
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okibrian 10/01/2009 2:30 AM
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So stop picking your nose while you are outside waiting on that bus or stopped at the red light. People can see you.

climber 10/01/2009 2:34 AM
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Did anyone see the movie "Eagle Eye", we're in dangerous times for personal freedom. Just imagine the possibilities for intrusive marketing companies "pushing" advertising to you based on where you are. It may be good for monitoring activity by law enforcement but giving this to the general public brings stalking issues to a whole new level.

The_One_and_Only 10/01/2009 2:48 AM
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Ok so why did they say REAL TIME?? Guess you weren't paying that much attention much like everyone else besides maddad. This would be using real time streaming video, and not just from local street cameras and the like, but from the satellites as well. This does suck and believe it or not the gov will eventually usurp all of our basic rights under the cover or "protecting us" What bunch of pussies most of America has become..... We used to produce steel people buck up or f*ck up!

Kelavarus 10/01/2009 3:52 AM
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foody 10/01/2009 4:43 AM
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I'm pretty sure this violates a few of my so called "rights".

megamanx00 10/01/2009 6:05 AM
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Scary stuff, but not surprising. The real scary things is, you'd never know if the government was already doing something like this, which I'm sure has been true for some time especially considering the previous administration.

winterlord 10/01/2009 7:05 AM
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this is wild, but seriosly i dont think they would be able to implament this stuff. and if they do it will probably require a warrant

winterlord 10/01/2009 7:06 AM
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it is however neat technology. but is not really somthin the goverment prolly cant alrdy do

Anonymous 10/01/2009 9:38 AM
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"Winterlord"

You don't need a warrant to track terrorists and if you look into it your goverment has already classed you all as terrorists. http://www.welfarestate.com/pamphlet/

jockeryl 10/01/2009 10:01 AM
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This is nothing new, both US and Israeli defense contractors have sold this type of solution for at least 5 years. It's deployed around secure facilities and even some airports. There are many research papers publicly available on the subject.
This is just another hyped news article just because they connected it with the "magic" Google word.

psycho sykes 10/01/2009 10:39 AM
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For all those saying it's not that bad.. Watch people through it then wait for them to watch you in return and come back here and say that you've been robbed while you was visiting your mother because the thieves knew you're out without having to watch the house and possibly get caught..
Please don't negative rate this comment instead quote it..

Clintonio 10/01/2009 11:27 AM
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I dislike it when people use the "if you're doing nothing wrong..." argument.

There is more to life than right and wrong. Not everything that is "right" is socially normal, and not everything that is wrong isn't. If someone who dislikes you were to perhaps pinpoint you doing something that you don't exactly want everyone to see, you have problems. Whether right or wrong.

r3t4rd 10/01/2009 12:09 PM
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psycho sykes 10/01/2009 12:12 PM
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r3t4rd :
Wut is soooo scary? As long as I am doing the watching.....Nekked 18yrs old girls, MILFs, and ur sister....undressing...WOOT!!! Where's my iShoe...err I mean iPodNano....?????


Learn English, Some skills and how to talk in public and talk about what then post..

darkxuy 10/01/2009 3:25 PM
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Psycho Sykes :
Learn English, Some skills and how to talk in public and talk about what then post..



Never argue with r3t4ards, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

mrface 10/01/2009 4:21 PM
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lol


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