Google Maps is a groundbreaking tool (litterally). Everyone has used it at least once. It has been around since October 2004 and it has helped us reach so many of our destinations in life. What a "moving" thought.
The Google Maps you and I use today is nothing what it was 5 years ago, or for that matter, 1 year ago! I always notice whatever subtle changes Google applies to their mapping system on the first day. That's how often I use it!
On May 29, 2007 Street View was unveiled. It was a Tuesday. I remember because I was at work that day planning my escape route home. I was in traffic mode and zoomed out to check on traffic going to Sin City when suddenly I saw a little camera icon floating above Las Vegas. I clicked on the icon immediately and found myself instantly immersed in the streets of Vegas! The strip was at my 360˚ disposal. I could see the fountain in front of the Bellagio; it was the real deal. Next I found myself strolling the streets of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and several other major cities. This was all made possible with the simple drag and drop of one little Orange Man. As the months went on more cities across the United States were photographed. When they were, I went exploring.
If you refer to the map above you will see how far Street View has come. Every so often I would check on its progress of photographing every street in America. Nevertheless, the more the blue lines continued to spread across cities, towns, and rural countryside the more my stomach began to turn. It gave me goosebumps knowing that we have colonized this entire beautiful landscape. It reminded me of poison spreading throughout the veins of an animal. Sick shit.
When Street View expanded to different countries I began checking out those places, too. See the Eiffel Tower without buying a plane ticket? I'm there. Zoom to Europe! Zoom in on France. Zoom in on Paris. Boom! Eiffel Tower. Simple. What's next? They added Japan now? Hot shit I'm there!
And with this advancement in technology I find myself getting lost in it, or rather, found. Google Maps and Street View have made our world even smaller. I have no doubt within the next few years the entire planet will be photographed. It probably won't stop there either. I imagine that the ocean depths will be charted one day as well.
~Anthans
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