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Google posts virtual tour of Longview area

Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:43 AM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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Thanks to a new feature from Google, you can now stand in Longview's Civic Center, walk a portion of Lake Sacajawea, maybe even get a view of your front door — all from your computer.

Google recently added parts of the local area to its Street View feature of Google Maps, allowing users a 360-degree perspective from various locations around Cowlitz County.

Here's how it works: Google drives through an area with a special camera mounted on a car's roof. The camera takes 360-degree photos along the way. Google then stitches the photos together and puts them on the Web.

The result: When you bring up an address in Google Maps, a window pops up showing a photo of the buildings, houses, people, cars and everything else that was in that spot when Google snapped its picture. Click right, and the camera pans right. Click left, and the camera pans left. Another set of arrows allows you to move up and down the street, just as though you were driving on it.

What's the point? In an e-mail, Google said Street View can be used for "virtual tourism" checking for landmarks, or just getting to know an area better.

Some question whether the feature raises privacy concerns. In other cities, the Google car has captured a man walking out of a strip club, another man near an adult book store and what appears to be prostitutes on a street corner. In one case, a Chicago-area woman flashed the camera.

The feature has been limited to mostly large cities since it launched last year. Google said it added Street View for Cowlitz County June 10, along with the Portland area. By the time the photos make it onto the Web, they're typically between a few months and a year old, Google said.

Street View isn't included for all of the area. Downtown Longview is conspicuously absent. Google also skipped a lot of residential streets. It's unclear when, or if, the Google car will return to flesh out the rest of the map.

To check it out, visit www.google.com/maps. Type in an address and click "Street View."

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Lance Johnson wrote on Jul 13, 2008 12:42 AM:

" Hopefully Google car never come back. This is invasion of privicy. I dont want no crazy being able to see what my front yard looks like. Unite people and run the Google car off if you see it. I have heard of this happening in other towns. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Jul 13, 2008 6:59 AM:

" I have been watching as Google and the Department of Homeland Security work together to map all the cities across America. I watched some big cities and have noted that POOR neighborhoods are on the map, but not rich neighborhoods. This mapping INCLUDES KELSO homes but not Longview homes. It looks like this toy is more for law enforcement than for tourism.

Another thing: I have been watching how many smaller towns get mapped compared to big cities and am curious as to what brought such interest from Homeland Security to our little corner of the world?

This is NOT a tourism toy. It is a strategic real time map drawn up with GPS. It is being used to control PEOPLE and their activities. You can place a big bet on that. "

Mrs. Pellwerds wrote on Jul 13, 2008 8:53 AM:

" Downtown Longview is conspicuously absent? You mean deliberately left out! "

Rubicon wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:01 AM:

" This is a neat thing. The first 2 posts need to get off the everyone is spying on them theory. "

justmy2cents wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:57 AM:

" Definately an invasion of privacy - whether intentional or not. "

Ms. Z wrote on Jul 13, 2008 11:14 AM:

" We sat and looked at the map for quite awhile and it never changed. If this is a real strategic real time GPS used to spy on folks then those folks need to do a better job. To me it looked no different then someone running around with a camera snapping photos. (BTW, the photo we looked at had an employee vehicle parked out front and she has been gone well over a month) "

Rubicon wrote on Jul 13, 2008 11:46 AM:

" It is no different. There fixed pictures with a 360 view. I wonder what these people do when someone drives by their house? Sounds like paranoid people to me. "

1978 jacks wrote on Jul 13, 2008 12:52 PM:

" How STUPID can the government and google be. Let's just give the terrorists a BIG blueprint of everything in the United States and watch them plan the next 9-11. "

Kelso Gringo wrote on Jul 13, 2008 1:44 PM:

" Relax people. This is not a conspiracy theory....although Google IS taking over the world. "

kitten wrote on Jul 13, 2008 2:25 PM:

" Rubicon-Sometimes people like to have a little privacy! What is wrong with that? I thought this was a little invasive too and couldn't think of why it would be useful. It never really showed off the attractive parts of town. "

DUH wrote on Jul 13, 2008 3:16 PM:

" How is it an invasion of your privacy? Do you not live on a public street? Do you go out and stop every car that travels your street and yell at the driver for invading your privacy? "

DestinyN wrote on Jul 13, 2008 5:57 PM:

" I have fun looking at the pictures on Google Earth. I'm not trying to peep in the windows of people's homes or anything. I think it's a neat little feature. If you're worried that your privacy is at risk of being invaded, STOP DOING THINGS TO INCRIMINATE YOURSELF!! The only things caught on camera that could embarrass you are things you're doing yourself. Get over it. It's a fun thing. Not an invasion of privacy. "

berryjewels wrote on Jul 13, 2008 6:03 PM:

" I was looking through this google earth also and noticed that my house is one pictured on here but since no one knows which one it is I don't see how my privacy is being invaded. I am not doing anything that would incriminate me or embarrass me so I am not worried about it. "

bluE wrote on Jul 13, 2008 6:45 PM:

" i think this is rather cool news. i live abroad and have not seen my home town for a long long time. i just got to basically pay a visit for free, whats even better is that it was from the safe distance of behind a screen 8000 miles away.

as for the conspiracy theories... well yeah im sure google is involved with big brother, and both are doing some serious datamining, in addition to developing some pretty insane gis software amongst other things to rule and exploit us all with, but this is not new info. there are people using gis every single day just about everywhere on the planet, and they have been for a long long time, your concerns should maby become a bit more focused, more educated, possibly a pinch more up to date. to be worried about some low resolution stationary novelty such as this invading your privacy, tracking your every move, and making you vulnerable to the crazies and terrorists by providing the evil doers with a year old 72 dpi freeze frame of your mail box is just funny. for real, it shows how dumbed down and tv fed you people are. this is like sounding the fire alarm after the building burned, cuz this is just a toy, they already got you on a leash. "

Beer&Skittles wrote on Jul 13, 2008 7:06 PM:

" ROTFLOL! You people are the best! Google is not real time. Go check out the sign on Cliff's Hilltop. It'll be that way forever...It's a necessary tool, and won't help the frickin terrorists one iota. Gotta love the conspiracy theorists. Had your lithium yet today? "

KelsoLesbian wrote on Jul 13, 2008 8:06 PM:

" These are stangnant pictures taken at least a few months ago. I checked out my sisters house (mine was not mapped) and a row of trees was planted about 4 months ago and they are not on the google thingy. I think it's pretty neato however. "

reasonable1 wrote on Jul 13, 2008 9:51 PM:

" You people are nuts. Take a look at the images. The construction fence is still around the unfinished arts center at the college. Leaves on the ground. And not a legible address or license plate in the lot of it. This is an entertaining tool to let people view places--that's all. The college my dad attended. How the trees we planted around my first house have grown. Where the parking is at the Kaiser facility in Portland.

A photograph of the outside of a house is not an invasion of anyone's privacy, fercryinoutloud. "

Rubicon wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:46 PM:

" Kitten: Its no different then a car driving by on the road. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Jul 14, 2008 8:52 AM:

" Rubicon: It IS different. A car being driven (1) costs fuel, (2)can be viewed openly by the people YOU are viewing, putting everyone on an even footing.

I used to work for NASA and this tool is being introduced to the public for the first time. You should know your government has been using it since the 1980's that I HAVE SEEN.

It is a strategic tool whether Rubicon wants to believe it or not. You are the one crossing the line here attacking other writers. Everyone before you just had an opinion and YOU started the bickering. Just bringing that to YOUR attention. "

viper wrote on Jul 14, 2008 9:40 AM:

" Here's a clue , DON'T Do ANYTHING ILLEGAL and you don't have anything to worry about
If you think there looking to get you guess what they already have that info
it a new toy thats all will the goverment use it for there purposes yes
in case you haven't noticed yet the goverment is worried about what you are doing thats why all the camaras around town , the goverment uses everything for a reason they lie about why they need it
just like the camaras in town eventully they will be writing tickets off of them everything they do is in phases the first is to get it implemented then down the road they use it for what they wanted it for it's a big smoke cloud they want to be like portland and vancover it's all about money and how they can get it out of your pockets it always has been about money and always will be thats a given are they out to get you and single you out I doubt it are you doing something illegal ? then you have cause to worry
invadeing your privcy from just some random pictures from around town I don't think so so smoke another dube and relax they get you soon enough: viper "

Rubicon wrote on Jul 14, 2008 9:57 AM:

" You paranoid ones go on and be paranoid for no reason. If you have something to hide oh well. That site is NO different than a car driving by a house, or someone walking by. I really don't see any problem with it what so ever. "

viper wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:25 PM:

" accord to you paranoid people, if you take a picture of mt rushmore you have invaded there privacy by takeing a picture , and when you take a picture of your family out in the yard you just invaded your neighbors privacy if his proptery is in the photo get over it !or get the mental help you need Viper "

reasonable1 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:37 PM:

" I'm with you, rubicon. Static images nearly a year old (in Longview's case) threaten no one. Anyone who wants to see commies under the bed is going to see them. Now, if they want to run and hide from the satellite view, that's another topic. Those images may be updated more frequently, but never reach street level. Tinfoil hats for everyone! "

kitten wrote on Jul 14, 2008 2:29 PM:

" I guess my main concern was Portland criminals beiing able to case our town without even having to use the gas to come and look in person. Toyota truck on 30th, another on Nichols etc. They can map out their route and get in and out quickly. I mostly didn't like that the addresses were given. "

reasonable1 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 4:25 PM:

" I seriously doubt that anyone 'casing' our town would bother with year-old photos, if they're inclined to use the Internet at all. Any criminal - from Portland or Minneapolis - that's planning anything big enough to require an escape route isn't bothering with google. And addresses are a matter of public record. They can get the same information from the county assessor's office. "

TheGenius wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:00 PM:

" If anyone can cite where in the Constitution the words "right to privacy" appear, please tell me. Otherwise, I would advise you to put away the tin-foil hats and remove the anti-bugging devices on your phones. "

justmy2cents wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:43 PM:

" OK OK - those of us who voiced our opinion (that we feel this is an invasion of privacy) get your message loud and clear! Stop beating a dead horse already - good grief! It's an opinion - that's all. There is no need to keep going on and on and on about how rediculous you all think we're being! Oh - the DRAMA! "

DUH wrote on Jul 14, 2008 6:12 PM:

" Bill of Rights (and 14th Amendment) Provisions Relating to the Right of Privacy
Amendment I
(Privacy of Beliefs)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment III
(Privacy of the Home)
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
(Pivacy of the Person and Possessions)
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment IX
(More General Protection for Privacy?)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Liberty Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
No State shall... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law. "

DUH wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:08 PM:

" Hmmmm, nothing in there saying they cant take pictures. "

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