Google car spotted in Ottawa - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Jake · 2007-09-13, 04:01 PM

Last Tuesday (or was it Monday) I spotted a Google branded 4 door sedan with some type of sensor pole mounted on its roof. I have seen pictures of the Google Street-view vehicle and this was not it. Unless they have shrunk the technology down. The pole looked to be about 1 m high with a tennis ball sized sensor on the end. Has anyone else seen it? This was near Little Italy going toward China Town.

Jake · 2007-09-13, 04:05 PM

Looks like it was the Google Street View camera car afterall. It was this exact car.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/eye-on-yo...ica-279222.php

otown47 · 2007-09-13, 06:14 PM

Did you happen to notice the plates on the car?

Jake · 2007-09-13, 08:07 PM

No, why? Should I have?

otown47 · 2007-09-14, 08:00 AM

Just wondering if it was a US car...probably was.....

dogbolter · 2007-09-14, 08:27 AM

Interesting considering this...

http://www.canada.com/topics/technol...138cd469&k=943

Quote:

OTTAWA - Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is sounding the alarm over a new Google program that lets users view and zoom in on street-level photographs that are so clear and precise, they can pinpoint an unknowing bystander and their exact location with the click of a mouse button.
(snip)
Although the program only focuses on the U.S. at this point, Google is eager to expand the service.

KingBuzzo · 2007-09-14, 02:21 PM

Holy gross invasion of privacy...

Thanks G00ble

Jake · 2007-09-14, 02:50 PM

Quote:

invasion of privacy

In a public space? If it is then tourists with cameras are a huge threat.

Plus I don't think that they image residential neighborhoods. I could be wrong.

otown47 · 2007-09-14, 03:22 PM

This debate is similar to the one in the thread about the police having access to peoples names from their IP addresses from the Canadian ISPs. I guess if you don't like one you won't like the other.

The satellite maps in Google Maps do show what is in your back yard and the cars in your driveway.

Jake · 2007-09-16, 10:49 AM

Another article.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/...icleId=9036678

Nels Stewart · 2007-09-18, 08:58 PM

They're in the Vancouver area as well. I thought I saw one on Boundary Rd. while I was riding on the weekend and my sighting was confirmed when I saw it again this morning, parked in a lot at the Metrotown shopping mall; Google decal on the tailgate, California plates.

KingBuzzo · 2007-09-19, 12:55 PM

What a great feature...now they can direct sell ads to us when our lawn has too many dandys or something and disguise it as a useful B00ble Earth tool (for stalking)...

Pure evil...

Jake · 2007-09-19, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Pure evil

People said the same thing when they put up the satellite imagery. Once the paranoia wore off people embraced it. Also, could somebody post a street view location where a person can be positively IDed?

dogbolter · 2007-09-19, 01:54 PM

Man leaving stripclub:
http://www.google.com/maps?q=970+OFa...163099,2&hl=en

Man entering adult book store:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=e...021709,3&hl=en

Jake · 2007-09-19, 02:11 PM

Nice but the back of somebody does not constitute "positive identification". The first guy I admit is easy to ID. How did you deduce he was leaving the strip club? Looks to me like he is putting money in the meter.

2007-09-13, 04:01 PM	#1
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,171	Google car spotted in Ottawa Last Tuesday (or was it Monday) I spotted a Google branded 4 door sedan with some type of sensor pole mounted on its roof. I have seen pictures of the Google Street-view vehicle and this was not it. Unless they have shrunk the technology down. The pole looked to be about 1 m high with a tennis ball sized sensor on the end. Has anyone else seen it? This was near Little Italy going toward China Town. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon. Last edited by Jake; 2007-09-13 at 04:02 PM. Reason: spelling

2007-09-13, 04:05 PM	#2
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,171	Looks like it was the Google Street View camera car afterall. It was this exact car. http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/eye-on-yo...ica-279222.php __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2007-09-13, 08:07 PM	#4
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,171	No, why? Should I have? __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2007-09-16, 10:49 AM	#10
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,171	Another article. http://www.computerworld.com/action/...icleId=9036678 __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2007-09-18, 08:58 PM	#11
Nels Stewart Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,905	They're in the Vancouver area as well. I thought I saw one on Boundary Rd. while I was riding on the weekend and my sighting was confirmed when I saw it again this morning, parked in a lot at the Metrotown shopping mall; Google decal on the tailgate, California plates. __________________ Beware of the evil orange plastic ball Visit The Big Ring

2007-09-13, 06:14 PM	#3
otown47 Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ottawa, Rogers Posts: 3,902	Did you happen to notice the plates on the car?

2007-09-14, 08:00 AM	#5
otown47 Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ottawa, Rogers Posts: 3,902	Just wondering if it was a US car...probably was.....

2007-09-14, 02:21 PM	#7
KingBuzzo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 273	Holy gross invasion of privacy... Thanks G00ble

2007-09-14, 03:22 PM	#9
otown47 Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ottawa, Rogers Posts: 3,902	This debate is similar to the one in the thread about the police having access to peoples names from their IP addresses from the Canadian ISPs. I guess if you don't like one you won't like the other. The satellite maps in Google Maps do show what is in your back yard and the cars in your driveway.

2007-09-19, 12:55 PM	#12
KingBuzzo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 273	What a great feature...now they can direct sell ads to us when our lawn has too many dandys or something and disguise it as a useful B00ble Earth tool (for stalking)... Pure evil...

2007-09-19, 01:54 PM	#14
dogbolter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 365	Man leaving stripclub: http://www.google.com/maps?q=970+OFa...163099,2&hl=en Man entering adult book store: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=e...021709,3&hl=en

2007-09-19, 02:11 PM	#15
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,171	Nice but the back of somebody does not constitute "positive identification". The first guy I admit is easy to ID. How did you deduce he was leaving the strip club? Looks to me like he is putting money in the meter. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

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