India Internet News
Google Maps Now Cover Real-time Videos
16 July 2011
On first look it seems to be any other 3-dimensional map but when zoomed a bit closer, you will observe the movement of cars and people around in real-time. This is none other than the universe of 'geo-immersion' that mingles the real and virtual worlds apparently to provide the user with the most influencing maps in the world.
At present, you will receive all the real-time updates of your friends' locations, and real-time movements of public transportation, all because of the new application made by University of Southern California researchers. According to the Daily mail report, they have merged real-time information along with Google-like mapping software to improve the tool of today's maps.
The prototypes contains a traffic tool which uses a standard Google map but covers where cars will be using recent and historical information. All this made users to plan the fastest path to their destination taking into consideration where other drivers will be.
Another software, named iCampus, provide real-time friends' locations that have commented or logged in to Facebook or Foursquare. Campus trams having transmitters attached can also be seen through the maps to help students so that they do not have to wait for them to come.
There is yet another software, in development, namely iWatch that involves a 3D map of a city with real-time inserts through CCTV cameras that covers the top and spring to life as soon as a user zooms in on them.
The research team head and computer scientist of University of Southern California, Cyrus Shahabi, stated "So you are immersed in that geographical area as if you are in the real world." The traffic map was nicknamed iTransportation and until now it has only been made for Los Angeles region.