This post has nothing about libraries in particular, but it does have something to do with technology. And, as we all now probably do when we plan a vacation or drive to an unfamiliar location, we use the internet and the map technologies that are available online. A recent addition to the map function on Google Maps called “Street Views” is the newest product of note from Google. Google never ceases to come up with more products that I think are cool. It is no wonder that Siva Vaidhyanathan is writing the book, The Googlization of Everything: How One Company is Disrupting Culture, Commerce, and Community — And Why We Should Worry.
Street Views allows you to view street level views of selected cities (sorry, Charleston isn’t one yet). It’s neat because the pictures are 360, so you can rotate from a specific point and see what is all around you. So, if you’ve ever wanted to explore San Francisco, New York City, Miami, etc check out Google Maps and click on “Street Views.”
This is my favorite street level view.
Here’s a handy little video that probably explains it better than I do.
