{"id":7010,"date":"2009-12-03T03:59:19","date_gmt":"2009-12-02T19:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techielobang.com\/blog\/?p=7010"},"modified":"2009-12-03T03:59:19","modified_gmt":"2009-12-02T19:59:19","slug":"singapore-street-view-on-google-maps-media-event-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techielobang.com\/blog\/2009\/12\/03\/singapore-street-view-on-google-maps-media-event-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Street View on Google Maps Media Event Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

2 weeks ago, LTA and Google held a joint event to announce Live Traffic, commuters direction guides on Google Maps<\/a> for Singapore. Today (2nd December 2009), Google\u00a0 launches Street View to Singapore, much to the delight of many Singaporean. Street View allows users to view and navigate 360 degree street-level imagery of Singapore. <\/span>Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia to get Street View and the fourth country in Asia Pacific after Japan, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7409m\"<\/p>\n

The event was held at Singapore Art House. As usual, you can see traces of Google at the event location (the BIG RED PIN).<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7352m\"<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7356m\"<\/p>\n

From the reception, I can see that we were expecting a big crowd.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7357m\"<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7360m\"<\/p>\n

The event started around 11am. Before that, we had a chance to view Google Street View on a few demo stations. Of course, there were food.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7369m\"<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7364m\"<\/p>\n

A welcome speech, followed by a speech by Mr. Andrew McGlinchey, Head of Product Management, Google Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7371m\"<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7374m\"<\/p>\n

We were given a hands on demonstration of Google Street View on how it can enhance the user experience of using Google Maps. According to Andrew, the Street View car will only access roads that is accessing by the public. Here is a picture of how a Street View car in Singapore looks like.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

It is amazing that even the parking sign board can be seen clearly using Street View. Here are a few shots of Street View.<\/p>\n

\"KampongGlamSGSV\"<\/p>\n

The picture below is at Empress Place, near to the event location. I took a picture of the actual place to let you see the differences.<\/p>\n

\"empress_place\"<\/p>\n

\"DSCN5184m\"<\/p>\n

And here is the Singapore Art House via Street View.<\/p>\n

\"art_house\"<\/p>\n

As you can see, Google is using a very wide angle lens. It is specially mounted onto the car to capture 360 degrees of image while it is traveling.<\/p>\n

Google has ensure that although pictures on the public road were taken, privacy of people on the road is still maintained. All images on Google Maps Street View has been automatically processed to ensure that faces and car plate numbers are blurred out. Here are a few shots on what I meant.<\/p>\n

\"Blurring<\/p>\n

Here is another funny one. It actually detected the human faces of an advertisement on a bus and automatically blurred them.<\/p>\n

\"advert_blur\"<\/p>\n

Of course, if you are unhappy about some spots or image on Street View, you can always report it (see the arrow on the below pic).<\/p>\n

\"report_a_problem\"<\/p>\n

It will then prompt you to enter some details.<\/p>\n

Next, Andrew did a live demonstration of Street View on an Google Android mobile phone. With its digital compass, you are able to move around the area to see the surrounding via Street View.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7378m\"<\/p>\n

\"DSC_7381m\"<\/p>\n

I had tried this function on Android phone before. Trust me, very nice.<\/p>\n

Click Here to View a Short Street View with Digital Compass Demo<\/a><\/h1>\n

Unfortunately, Windows Mobile do not have this Digital Compass function on the Google Maps. I wonder if Google will release another version of Google Maps that can activate this function for those phones with Digital Compass (ie. HTC HD2<\/a> \ud83d\ude42 )<\/p>\n

Next, we have Mr. Derek Callow, Head of Marketing, Google Southeast Asia, to provide an insight on what consumers and businesses can do with Google Maps Street View.<\/p>\n

He gave an example of how OCBC organized a OCBC Cycle Event with the help of Street View.<\/p>\n

Click Here to View the Press Release<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"DSC_7385m\"<\/p>\n

For consumers: –<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n