Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Google Improves Map Images Using ''Kite View''

By - Source: Tom's Guide US

Now we must arm the entire planet with kite cameras!

The Google Earth and Google Maps images that we love so much are based off of satellite photos. While those give us a great view of where we live, even good enough to the point of being able to spot who has a swimming pool in their backyard.

Now, thanks to a world-exploring man and wife team and their kite, they're helping to make Google Maps and Earth even better.

Frank Taylor, who runs the unofficial Google Earth Blog, is on an enviable five-year expedition called the Tahina Expedition. Thanks to his partnership with Google, Frank's used his camera pictures taken from a kite's perspective to better the detail on Google Maps and Google Earth.

Here is a good example of how things look from his camera compared to what the satellites captured (of course, what the satellites can do from space are still mind-boggling).

Read more in the Tahina blog.

Via Gizmodo.

There are 41 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 11 Ð
    mayankleoboy1 , October 13, 2010 10:34 PM
    there goes my privacy down the drain....
  • 10 Ð
    gm0n3y , October 14, 2010 12:00 AM
    webbwbbSo how long until we hear news that the people from the Tahina expedition were captured by Somali pirates? The route on their site goes awefuly close to the Somali shore...

    Flying over Somalia... Black Kite Down?
Other Comments
  • 5 Ð
    dormantreign , October 13, 2010 10:18 PM
    Holy i didn't even know that place existed and i'm super good with maps and ****. A ring island, thats pretty neat.
  • 3 Ð
    webbwbb , October 13, 2010 10:22 PM
    So how long until we hear news that the people from the Tahina expedition were captured by Somali pirates? The route on their site goes awefuly close to the Somali shore...
  • 4 Ð
    mavroxur , October 13, 2010 10:25 PM
    Greater detail, yes. But I can only imagine how long it would take to cover an entire city with stills taken from a kite. And in some situations, a kite is impossible (power lines, tall buildings, etc). I guess I don't see how you could use this uniformly. It would seem like you'd only get spotty coverage for the most part.
  • 11 Ð
    mayankleoboy1 , October 13, 2010 10:34 PM
    there goes my privacy down the drain....
  • 4 Ð
    maloney , October 13, 2010 10:35 PM
    mavroxurI guess I don't see how you could use this uniformly. It would seem like you'd only get spotty coverage for the most part.

    I'd say this is his hobby and passion, he's not on a mission from god. Not everything done has to be efficient & productive, just look at video games :p 
  • -9 Ð
    2real , October 13, 2010 10:43 PM
    mayankleoboy1there goes my privacy down the drain....

    what gave google the right to take pictures like these?
  • 8 Ð
    igot1forya , October 13, 2010 10:44 PM
    dormantreignHoly i didn't even know that place existed and i'm super good with maps and ****. A ring island, thats pretty neat.

    That is what is known as an "Atoll".
  • 4 Ð
    sliem , October 13, 2010 11:08 PM
    Stay indoors, folks.
  • 9 Ð
    Snipergod87 , October 13, 2010 11:32 PM
    2realwhat gave google the right to take pictures like these?


    They arent invading your property, anybody can view your property from above legaly. Its well within anyones rights to do this.
  • 4 Ð
    socrates047 , October 13, 2010 11:35 PM
    "(of course, what the satellites can do from space are still mind-boggling)"

    that line adds a wonderful contrast to the kite pics... both equally awesome in their respects
  • 9 Ð
    RooD , October 13, 2010 11:37 PM
    I see a huge pile of cocaine
  • -1 Ð
    ethanolson , October 13, 2010 11:40 PM
    Google is actually playing catch-up here. I've been using Bing's Bird's Eye View for years. When I went house hunting, I could see junk in people's backyards.
  • 3 Ð
    anonymous@guest , October 13, 2010 11:40 PM
    Bing Maps' "bird's eye" view already has this closer perspective... only they use these modern things called airplanes to do it.
  • 1 Ð
    Tattysnuc , October 13, 2010 11:46 PM
    Igot1foryaThat is what is known as an "Atoll".


    Wow! Never seen one of those before let alone a whole cluster of them!

    Never seen any at all (Atoll....)

    Sorry. That's dreadful.
  • -3 Ð
    gogogadgetliver , October 13, 2010 11:51 PM
    Meh. Bird's Eye on Bing maps is much better. In fact bing is really starting to make google look complacent. Check this (esp video)..

    http://politicallyillustrated.com/index.php?/page/features/1893/
  • 0 Ð
    mrface , October 13, 2010 11:56 PM
    Check out the Key Hole project from the 50's then you will realize that google "bought" this project; effeciently making bing's bird eye...

    ... a descendant...
  • 10 Ð
    gm0n3y , October 14, 2010 12:00 AM
    webbwbbSo how long until we hear news that the people from the Tahina expedition were captured by Somali pirates? The route on their site goes awefuly close to the Somali shore...

    Flying over Somalia... Black Kite Down?
  • 0 Ð
    gtvr , October 14, 2010 12:08 AM
    Must be quite the place to live - everyone has beachfront property!
  • 2 Ð
    Andon48 , October 14, 2010 12:09 AM
    Hope nobody has weed growing in their back yard lol.
  • -1 Ð
    gogogadgetliver , October 14, 2010 12:18 AM
    @mrface an evolved descendant perhaps. What about Street Slide? (another Bing thing that makes google look complacent). Pretty sure that's just pure MS R&D.
Display more comments
Tom’s guide in the world
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Ireland
  • UK
Follow Tom’s guide
Subscribe to our newsletter