Google Street View - a Useful Tool for Home Exchangers

Last week several large cities in the UK joined those in a number of other countries that can be viewed, street by street, on Google Street View. Although this raises some privacy issues, it is also a really useful tool for anyone planning a home exchange to one of the cities covered.

If you live in a city covered by Google Street View, once you get to the stage of sharing contact details with home exchange partners, being able to view your street and area in such detail will enable them to become familiar with your local neighbourhood and also view it within the context of the whole city. Most home exchangers leave their guests detailed information (and you'll still want to do this) but now you can actually direct them to your favourite restaurant, the best shop for fruit and veg, the closest bus stop and your local train station. And, of course, if your home exchange destination is covered by Street View, you should have a great preview of the location before you even leave home!

Comments

[Baby gift baskets]

Thanks for posting this. Awesome idea!

[Lois]

I agree with Kathie that there are certainly some very negative aspects to allowing a private company like Google to film streets and homes in such detail without consent (even though Google says it will delete anything on request, this may be too late for some).

My street isn't covered either but I have to admit to enjoying a little 'play', going down streets (interesting in the UK to see all the Woolworths stores on the high streets, which makes such streets, filmed last summer, look rather dated!)

Google Street View is now a reality in some cities and there are certainly positive ways it can be used. This was my suggestion for home exchangers. No one should give their address to another member until they feel ready to do so, but once they do reach this stage and are in the process of arranging an exchange then, if their street is covered by Google Street View, their exchange partners will be able to check out the neighbourhood and start to get their bearings before their trip.

[Kathie]

Personally I'm not impressed with the concept of Google Street. One woman has already been tracked down by her violent ex and there are concerns that it allows would be burglars to monitor occupancy of houses - particularly those of vulnerable elderly people. Our street is not covered by but, if it ever comes in my direction, I shall be opting out.

[web designer mom]

wow. anothergreat innovation from google!