Is Google making 007 a reality?
When Janina Valiente head home after a hard day at work in San Francisco she had little idea she would be mugged. As she watched the thief take off with her bag, however, her quick thinking and a little help from an internet giant would bring her possessions back and the assailant to justice.
Using a kind stranger’s mobile, Valiente was able to call her sister who would relay the exact location the thieves had stopped to her quick-thinking sibling.
Within the hour, bag and owner were reunited.
The hero behind this story of futuristic crime-solving is none other than everyone’s favourite search engine, Google.
Whilst Valiente’s story is undoubtedly one of a resounding success, it begs many questions as to the growing power of Google’s empire of web-based software.
After Google’s Street View was recently cleared of breaching the Data Protection Act, the sheer power of Google’s mapping software range was enhanced.
Latitude is one of the latest in Google’s vast array of web-based location programs. Any mobile device with GPS facilities, and the ability to run Google Maps, can be tracked by approved Gmail friends, simply and instantly. Users can watch friends, who have approved them, make their way across the globe or around the corner, on their computers or own mobile devices.
The true power of Google, however, is not in its individual softwares. Google maps can be coupled with its Latitude service to source instant directions to a friend’s location from your own. If and when Street View rolls out to more cities and towns in the country it will be possible to see the street a friend is stood on or walking down.
While the integration of this software has indisputable advantages- the ability to get lost or separated from friends or family on a trip now almost impossible- there is a downside. While Facebook/MySpace/Twitter-stalking can all hold some burden of the blame for relationship disputes, Google’s online collections have dangerous potential to become the next step on the ladder of possessiveness.
Though there are safeguards in which you can block users, turn off your GPS locator or manually set your location- a world where anyone and everyone can be a Private Eye, applications such as Google Maps should perhaps carry a word of warning.
Beware, use of this product may cause craziness.
Related posts:
- Google Maps With Turn by Turn Navigation
- Google Smartphone: ready to take a bite out of Apple
- Now Add Locations From Google Maps To Your TomTom
- Google Nexus Phone: Are Google Trying to Fix It Spotty 3G Problems?
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