The Google tricycle

PHILADELPHIA — Coming soon to a campus near you — the Google tricycle.

A pedicab-like vehicle mounted with an 8-foot-high camera has been rolling around the pedestrian walkways of the University of Pennsylvania to collect panoramic images of the campus for Google Maps’ Street View feature, which gives users detailed, street-level views of map locations on the Internet.

Google Inc. has been using car-mounted cameras to prowl streets in the U.S. and around the world.

The human-powered version allows coverage of pedestrian-only areas on campuses, in public parks and at theme parks, as well as hiking and bicycling trails, as Google seeks to expand coverage of its online maps.

The effort comes as Google faces complaints from many individuals and institutions that have been photographed around the world. Since launching in 2007, Street View has expanded to more than 100 cities worldwide.


Offering opportunity
Danny Sullivan, editor-in-chief of the industry news site Search Engine Land, called the new effort a good public relations move by Google.
"This is a nice way for them to say ‘Hey, look, Street View: It’s really warm and fuzzy,’” Sullivan said. "It’s not just about taking pictures of people’s houses. We can find these footpaths that people want to go on and walking areas, places people will like.”

The 250-pound vehicle, which resembles the pedicabs that carry tourists around Philadelphia and other cities, has the cyclist pumping the pedals up front, with the camera mounted on a tower in the back. On the rear is a red generator along with a large white chest that contains the computer recording the digital images.



by the associated press