Google developing Streetview-video or a navigation system?

Fri 2 October 2009 15:01, Bas van den Beld

Google Streetview is made out of images. It could be however that Google is currently working on a version which is build up by video images.

This can be concluded by a patent request which was made by Google last week at the European Patent Office. The patent is for "Panoramic Images Within Driving Directions". That could also imply Google is building their own navigation system based on video.

If you read through the patent its clear that Google is either going to use it for Streetview or some sort of a navigation system. The description clearly talks about "Enhanced driving directions applications".

In the Summary it also says:

"Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the display of map information, including driving directions, and more particularly to the display and/or navigation of images within driving directions."

and

"Embodiments of the present invention further enable navigation of panoramic images associated with the driving direction steps and/or other panoramic images not associated with or unrelated to the driving direction steps."

An image in the original document shows a Google-map like screen with directions on the side.

What is Google doing here? It could be they are planning on improving Google Maps / Streetview by using video images. You could then expect that you can see a video of the directions you will have to take.

Another option is that Google is actually trying to make a navigation system using video-images. This could be a (paid?) add on to Google Streetview and maybe even Android.

Time will tell what Google is really up to...

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Comments (1)

- John michel
- [website]
Google StreetView developing a good quality..

Sun 4 Oct 2009, 11:19

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