The now decade-old tool many have come to rely on to view the streets of the world from their desktops and mobile phones, Google Street View, just got a major upgrade.
In fact, this is the first major upgrade to the Google Street View system in eight years. The changes promise to transform the system from a mere panoramic visual index of the world into a data-rich layer of information that makes nearly every inch of the world searchable in a new way.
SEE ALSO:Google's ARCore SDK brings AR creation tools to AndroidThe new upgrades were highlighted in a report on Wiredon Tuesday, in which Google revealed that its new Street View cars will be equipped with seven cameras (down from 15), each using a 20 megapixel sensor behind its lens. The upgrade, as demonstrated in a video demonstration (below), delivers far clearer images and fewer image stitching errors.
Within the camera array are two cameras, one in front and one in back, which are used for laser radar positioning. Another two cameras, looking out on either side of the vehicle, are tasked with capturing still HD images. Those two side-looking HD cameras are meant to pick out things like business names and street signs. That data is filtered through Google's AI framework to parse relevant information, which will allow users to conduct incredibly specific Street View search queries that correspond to on-the-ground information like store names and opening and closing times.
Aside from helping users more easily navigate the real world, this also seems to offer Google a powerful new advertising tool when it comes to mapping and monetizing the real world retail landscape.
In addition to Google's own fleet of Street View cars, users of the Street View app can also use their own off-the-shelf 360 cameras to contribute street imagery to Street View, a feature that was introduced back in 2015.
The newly equipped Street View cars just began hitting the road last month, so it may take a while to notice the differences. But as the new layer of Street View imagery and data takes hold, Street View's virtual panorama will start to look and feel a lot more like a mirror of the real world.
TopicsArtificial IntelligenceGoogle
(责任编辑：百科)
5 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world
Instagram rolls out Stories for mobile web browsers and desktops
Tinder Gold drives app to number one grossing spot on the App Store
A huge, 2.717 questions you can answer if you're a good communicatorHiddleswift finally followed each other on Instagram after 3 excruciating days
On Aug. 13, 1961, Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall, perhaps the greatest symbol of the
...[详细]SanDisk just released the most impressive microSD card
SanDisk just announced its biggest microSD card yet--but it doesn't come cheap. The world's first 40
...[详细]The 8 best gadgets from Berlin's IFA 2017 technology show
Europe's largest technology show, IFA, kicked off early this week in Berlin. Running until Sept. 6,
...[详细]Game of Thrones: Has George R.R. Martin been teasing Jon's real name?
Now that Game of Throneshas finally revealed Jon Snow's real name (Aegon Targaryen) fans have starte
...[详细]This weird squid looks like it has googly eyes, guys
Internet, meet your new spirit animal.
。Scientists aboard the research vessel the E/V Nautilus, off t
...[详细]What Joel Osteen learned about social media from Hurricane Harvey
Thank heaven for social media.That sentiment was definitely on the minds of many people caught in th
...[详细]12 kids who don't care what you think
Kids do the darndest things. Perhaps it's because they have no real responsibilities, or maybe it's
...[详细]Matt Damon explains the obnoxious requirement for filming in a Trump building
Movies that want to shoot inside one of Donald Trump's buildings must feature him in a shot, Matt Da
...[详细]Airbnb activates disaster response site for Louisiana flooding
Airbnb has activated its disaster response page following the record-breaking flooding in Louisiana.
...[详细]Tinder Gold drives app to number one grossing spot on the App Store
Tinder hit number one as the top grossing app on the App Store for the first time ever, all thanks t
...[详细]This app is giving streaming TV news a second try
The 8 best gadgets from Berlin's IFA 2017 technology show
