Google Improves Map Images Using ''Kite View''
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).
Via Gizmodo.
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Holy i didn't even know that place existed and i'm super good with maps and ****. A ring island, thats pretty neat.
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...
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.
there goes my privacy down the drain....
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.
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
there goes my privacy down the drain....
what gave google the right to take pictures like these?
Holy 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".
Stay indoors, folks.
what 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.
"(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
I see a huge pile of cocaine
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.
Bing Maps' "bird's eye" view already has this closer perspective... only they use these modern things called airplanes to do it.
That 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.
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/ [...] ures/1893/
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...
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...
Flying over Somalia... Black Kite Down?
Must be quite the place to live - everyone has beachfront property!
Hope nobody has weed growing in their back yard lol.
@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.
None of the images in Google earth are actually from a satellite you morons!! Can you image the focal length of the lens?
They are all areal photographs from airplanes strung together.
This is really embarrassing TOM
None of the images in Google earth are actually from a satellite you morons!! Can you image the focal length of the lens?They are all areal photographs from airplanes strung together.This is really embarrassing TOM
That is incorrect. Many of the images in Google Earth are from satellites. The images of most of the oceans, and uninhabited areas of the world are satellite images. Think about all of those places that you can't zoom in for the last few levels of magnification.
None of the images in Google earth are actually from a satellite you morons!! Can you image the focal length of the lens?They are all areal photographs from airplanes strung together.This is really embarrassing TOM
If you're going to slam someone and talk about their embarassment you better make sure you're right.
Google Earth uses multiple sources and some of them are indeed from satellite. http://www.google.com/librariancen [...] 04_01.html
Don't you mean "mind-bottling"? Duh.
there goes my privacy down the drain....
Interestingly enough, when the US was founded there was the right of passage/to hunt on lands even "privately" held. In fact, the only way you could block the right of passage was to cultivate the land and put a fence around it. (Of course, we then killed most the game in the east and that right became pointless.) Your "privacy" never really existed, and some would argue actually infringes on others' rights. For example, could you ban anyone from looking at your private property ...from above? ...from the street? ...indirectly on a map? ...in there imagination?
Interestingly enough, when the US was founded there was the right of passage/to hunt on lands even "privately" held. In fact, the only way you could block the right of passage was to cultivate the land and put a fence around it. (Of course, we then killed most the game in the east and that right became pointless.) Your "privacy" never really existed, and some would argue actually infringes on others' rights. For example, could you ban anyone from looking at your private property ...from above? ...from the street? ...indirectly on a map? ...in there imagination?
Although my previous Blades of Glory reference has destroyed all my credibility, I agree with this well worded and almost indisputable argument. The only visual privacy you are entitled to is the privacy you manually generate. As long as there is a line of sight to your home from some type of public domain it's unreasonable to expect anything else. I suspect people should either stop crying or build an underground bunker to live in... or require that all those passing by wear blinders and look ahead. That might be doable.
Holy i didn't even know that place existed and i'm super good with maps and shit. A ring island, thats pretty neat.
Most of the French Polynesian Islands are ring shaped like that. They also happen to be some of the most beautiful vacation spots in the world. Many Vacation websites use pictures from French Polynesia for that white sand beach tropical vacation people dream of.
@ the guy who didn't know what an Atoll was...
Man you need to at least *pretend* to plan for a vacation even if you never actually take one. Geez man get outside more.
next up google gets UAVs
with autonomous land and air vehicles 2/3 of the earth is theirs for the taking
@dark_lord69
except maybe Bikini Atoll...... only Godzilla goes their for vacation
They arent invading your property, anybody can view your property from above legaly. Its well within anyones rights to do this.
Actually, stating that you're being within the boundaries of the law doesn't necessarily mean you have a "right." It just means you're not breaking any law.
By your rationale if a government decides to pass a law banning pancakes then we no longer have a "right" to them, which I think many would passionately argue otherwise.
I would argue that "freedom from" is infinitely more important than "freedom to"