Media: Google Maps ’street view’ images to old, too innacurate

Count me among those who were a bit worried at news that the fine folks at Google have added Peoria to the the communities they have photographed for their “street view” results. But a quick survey of search results left me much less worried.

This is how it works: Go to Google Maps and type in an address. Searchers will get a page displaying a street map with a “pin point” showing the exact location of that address. As always, you can click a few links and get directions to and from that locaction. But because Peoria has been photographed by Google, users can click on a “street view” link and be treated to an image supposedly taken at that location.

And it’s not a static image either. Users can click on the image and manipulate it to get a view of that entire street. By clicking buttons, the viewer can literally travel up and down that street, getting a look at what the Google cameras saw on that day.

You can imagine the ways people will try to use this.

But here’s the problem: The addresses aren’t accurate. Every address I tried send me to the wrong location every time I used “street view.” I had to move up and down the street every single time to locate the house I was trying to find. The “approximate” addresses given for the homes I was looking at were all inaccurate.

So, when a stalker wants to see exactly where his/her victim lives, he/she will actually have to drive to the location.

Still, the innacuracies can cause problems outside your ability to control.

When I searched for my former address at Kingspark, I was directed to a home that was MUCH better looking than the one I actually lived in. Now, imagine if the situation was reversed. Imagine you’ve applied for a loan, and some lazy loan officer uses Google Maps Street View to see if your home is worth as much and he/she is directed to the run-down rental property down the block.

And the pictures are OLD. At least several months old, So it’s not like anyone can sit at the computer and monitor your activities. No doubt it won’t stop people from assuming what they are seeing is accurate. If it’s on Google, it has to be right … right?