Those devilishly brilliant folks at Google! In an effort to get better resolution and more accurate images of homes, streets and businesses in the Street View area of Google Maps, Google has developed the Google Trike, a smaller and more nimble vehicle than the cars normally used. But developing the three-wheeled bicycle, which can access off-the-beaten-trail areas and pedestrian-only locations, is not the brilliant part. It's the "pick a location" nomination contest that Google announced. Users were invited to vote for places the new trike should image in six categories.
- parks and trails
- university campuses
- theme parks and zoos
- pedestrian malls
- landmarks
- sports venues
What a fiendishly smart idea. Had Google just barged into the nooks and crannies of neighborhoods not otherwise accessible by its previous method, residents might have felt trampled upon. Afterall, not everyone likes the Street View crews that drive through neighborhoods snapping photos indiscriminately.
But that's not what Google did. They got people to invite them into those previously unphotographed places and got them to clamber over an accepted invitation. It's like they got people to fight over Google snapping photos of their underwear drawers. My drawer! No, mine! Brilliant.
The winning locations will be announced later this month.
Tags: Internet, Vehicles and Equipment
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