Less than a year after the first camera mounted on a Toyota Prius started snapping SA's streets, Internet giant Google has released the local version of the Street View feature to Google Maps and Google Earth.
"This is a first for Africa, and a really exciting development for South Africans, who can now explore their country in new ways, whether a local neighbourhood in the city, or a scenic costal route they've never seen,” says Julie Taylor, communications manager for Google SA.
The company has photographed streets in 27 South African towns and cities that allow a full 360-degree view of any given point in the streets. There are also 3D models and 360-degree views of seven of SA's new stadiums that will be used during the Soccer World Cup.
“It is also going to be a massive bonus for the tourism industry, especially with all the international visitors arriving in SA. Tourists will be able to take a look at sights and stadiums before they get here, while the rest of the world can enjoy the view from their mobile phone or PC," adds Taylor.
In September last year, Google mounted several Toyotas with camera equipment, to photograph the Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth streetscapes. The stadiums were shot using the Google trikes, small three-wheelers that circled the stadiums with cameras attached.
Roshene Singh, chief marketing officer at SA Tourism, notes: "We're delighted that Street View has arrived in SA. Whether you're looking at Cape coastal scenery, the Blyde River Canyon, or at our state-of-the-art new soccer stadiums, Street View is going to be an excellent tool for the tourism industry at large."
SA's iconic game reserve, the Kruger Park, is also getting in on the action. William Mabasa, head of HR at the reserve, says: "Kruger is an iconic South African destination, and the launch of Street View in SA means that we can bring Kruger's spectacular wildlife to even more people around the globe. In fact, our elephants are the first elephants ever on Street View."
Locals wanting to take a peek at their own homes on the 360 service can go to http://maps.google.com, and if the feature is available, select Street View.
Google was recently under fire for privacy concerns around the Street View function. However, the company says it has gone to great lengths to address South Africans' privacy concerns.
“Street View only contains imagery that is already visible from public roads, and features technology that blurs both faces and licence plates. In addition, any user can easily flag images for removal that he or she considers inappropriate by clicking on 'report a problem',” the company explains.
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