Google Maps just added an awesome new feature – you can now step back in time using the app’s historical street view feature. This means that users can now see how specific locations and cities have changed over time – this could be invaluable to travelers, historians, and anyone who wants to see what something used to look like from their phone or laptop! You can even see your own house as it looked during the Clinton administration! Here’s how it works… How to Step Back in Time with Google Maps’ New Historical Street View Feature
Fun facts about history
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Today, it’s easy to take things like maps and street view for granted—after all, they are literally at our fingertips on mobile. But these technologies have been a long time coming and many individuals contributed majorly to their development along the way. For example, Gerardus Mercator was a Flemish cartographer who came up with a revolutionary projection of maps onto planes that essentially took into account how we see things from an aerial perspective. This Mercator Projection is still used today. I would go into greater detail about how he made such an impactful contribution to society but here’s where I’d start getting all nerd-y about mapping and instead, I’ll let you read about him for yourself here . Enjoy!
Benefits of using historical street view
Many people aren’t aware of it, but you can actually use Google maps street view to look at historical photos. For instance, by going on Google Maps and clicking on historical and 2009 you can see an image of what that location looked like as recently as 2009. But why would anyone want to do that? Here are a few great reasons
Tips on how to use historical street view
To use historical street view, simply open up your maps app and look for a camera icon within a red marker. When you click on it, you’ll be taken back in time. Keep clicking on additional cameras to go back even further. This new feature can also come in handy when trying to visualize what a neighborhood used to look like before its buildings were torn down or redeveloped; just take note that certain historical cameras might only have one image of an area from several years ago rather than multiple images from different years as you’d see if using street view normally.
What is street view?
Using a special camera mounted on a moving vehicle, Google captures street-level images of popular destinations and lets users explore them. The historical version displays historic photos that were collected by experts, photographers and people who are passionate about their cities. Using historical street view you can take people back in time and see how certain locations have changed over time, including their architecture and landscapes. You can also compare cities across time periods, exploring how they’ve both evolved differently over more than 200 years since it was first introduced as part of Google Earth in 2005.
What’s new about the historical feature?
The historical feature isn’t a separate app; it’s just an option on mobile that you can enable by going into your camera settings. You might see one or two locations marked historical when you open up your camera—that’s because Google is rolling out to a limited number of places at first. It’ll expand from there, and more places will be added over time. To get started, just look for places listed as historical under more cameras. And if you don’t see any listed yet, don’t worry: Google says it’ll soon roll out worldwide.
Can you only use it with mobile devices?
While Google has always been at the forefront of innovation, they have truly blown it out of the water with their newest creation. For as long as people have been on planet Earth, there has been a need for new ways to reminisce about times gone by. With Google’s new mobile app update, you can now step back into history by taking your phone back to any place and time you want! And now that it’s not just Android users who can enjoy these features; iPhone users are invited too!
When did it launch?
The historical feature went live on Thursday, but users will have to wait for a fix before they can start using it. When that happens, it should work on most phones running Android 6.0 or higher (sorry, iPhone users). Just open up Google Maps and look for an orange clock icon in one of your app’s side menus—that’s where you’ll be able to find images from time periods ranging from 2011 back through 2006. You can switch between those dates by scrolling down further. While no exact schedule has been given for when Google will roll out its solution, at least we know that when things are working again, they’ll stay that way.
Is there an API available for developers?
An API (application programming interface) is a set of protocols and tools for building software applications. If you’ve got a cool idea for an app, chances are it’s already been built—and there’s probably an API available so you can easily plug it into your project. For example, if you wanted to create a fun game that uses location data from users, it would be helpful to know whether there was an existing geolocation API you could use as a shortcut. Maybe you want your app to communicate directly with other apps or devices: APIs will help make sure everyone’s on board. The more experienced developers become familiar with APIs, they’ll notice how much time and effort they can save when launching projects and making their lives easier by increasing code reuse.
Who can use this feature and why do they need it?
The new feature is available on both Android and iOS and can be found by going into street view mode. Currently, you need to type Streets into the search bar and click on historical. You will then see a historical marker appear next to your area of interest that looks like a clock. When you select it, a calendar will pop up showing which dates are available for viewing. The dates range from 2012-2016. Keep in mind that Google has not provided information about whether or not every city will have access to historical views yet, but more cities are expected to be added over time. So far, five U.S.
What are some ways people can use this new feature outside of mapping applications?
It can be a lot of fun to look at historical locations. In addition, people may find that it is easy to use maps of historic times as an educational tool. Rather than simply reading about a time period, seeing how cities have changed over time can give people a better idea of what life was like during other eras. If you’re particularly interested in local history or enjoy studying world events, you might find that it’s a fun way to learn more about where you live and your city’s unique story. Some may even decide that they want to visit historical sites or neighborhoods and are inspired by what they see using Google Maps. This could lead to memorable vacations and even new career opportunities for those who enjoy writing about travel. The possibilities are endless when learning through technology!
How is Google making money from this new feature?
In 2012, Google announced it would incorporate sponsored locations into search results. Sponsored listings are advertisements from local businesses and organizations that appear on a search engine result page. A search for dentist on Google might bring up one or more ads for dentists along with regular organic search results. These new features may be incorporated into these existing ads. The idea is that you’ll see an ad and click through to look at what’s nearby, then follow up and make a purchase. In terms of mobile maps specifically, location-based advertising is already booming; according to Reuters , approximately 60 percent of smartphone users employ location-based services at least once a month.
What improvements will be seen over time as more locations get added to street view?
One of my favorite features of historical street view is its ability to show change over time. For example, users can go back and see how a neighborhood has developed or how cities have been rebuilt after a natural disaster. Currently, it’s a bit difficult to find some historic locations in Google maps but that will likely get easier as more areas get added. One suggestion I have for improving historical street view is adding more coverage to rural communities that are not highly populated but contain culturally important landmarks. I hope they consider covering pioneer villages and other such locations if they want historians and anthropologists using their product as well.