Google Street View fever is gripping the UK, and not just because some people are complaining about it, but because Brits are a nosy bunch!
But other than gawping at your own house (which we’re pretty sure you’ve seen before) there are tons of other uses for Google’s street-level voyeurism. Read on for five surprise uses for Google Street View!
1. Run the marathon
The Flora London Marathon takes place next month. If you’re competing, you can now run the entire route virtually using Google Street View, and if your clicking finger is tired by the time you’ve completed it, maybe that’s a sign that a few more training sessions are in order. Thanks to MapMyRun for Googleising the route!
2. Plan a heist
Actually no, don’t. Although some people have. Ex-burglar Richard Taylor, who fronts BBC show To Catch A Thief, reckons Google Street View will be used by thieves targeting exotic cars, since they can spot them online before casing the joint for real. In the past, Google Earth has been accused of helping thieves find copper and lead to steal, so if you’ve got a fancy motor (or a lead roof) it might be time to put it in the garage, and invest in some camouflage for the top of your house!
3. Outsmart travel agents
So you’re booking a holiday that boasts a hotel “two minutes from the beach”? Thanks to Google Street View you can see whether the brochure is telling the truth, or whether the travel agent has employed a spotty copywriter to make it sound enticing without ever actually visiting the place.
4. Spot a celebrity
Google Street View has only been live for a week, but already celebrities have been caught by its roving car cams. Comedian Dave Gorman has owned up to being Google-snapped in Hackney, while Top Gear’s The Stig can clearly be seen through the windows of some BBC offices. Not enough for you? How about Where’s Wally? Google plonked him on Putney High Street to celebrate the launch of Street View in the UK.
5. Take part in a car chase!
You don’t need to be a criminal, or a copper to take part in a real life car chase – Google’s done the hard work for you! One of its Street View cars captured a real life high speed pursuit in Bradford! Documented along the way, you can see a car nip into a bus lane, before being tailed and pulled over by PC Plod. Or should that be the long arm of Google? Check out GoogleSightseeing for the full story in pictures.
