Google is set to make it possible for anyone to contribute to Street View through a program called "Street View Ready."
Typically, only Google’s Street View cars have been able to add to the Street View database, but soon, anyone with the right hardware will be able to do so as well.
The Insta360 Pro camera, required to add to Street View, retails at $3,999.
For this price, you get a 360-degree camera to mount on your vehicle, capturing images in 8K resolution at 5 frames per second.
As the first camera to receive the designation of being "Street View auto ready," it will be possible to control the camera with the Street View app.
Who is This Camera For?
After learning the price of this camera, it’s hard not to wonder who it is made for. It’s interesting that this technology exists and that Google is letting users add to Street View for the first time, but why?
At nearly $4,000, the price fits the profile of a "pro" camera, but what kind of professional needs this?
Realtors come to mind. Uploading recent images of a neighborhood may increase interest in a house when potential buyers search for the address.
City officials could also benefit, especially if they want to keep key areas of a city up-to-date on Street View.
New businesses could emerge, offering services to update Street View images for homes or businesses if the current image is unflattering.
This camera has already been available prior to its recognition by Google, so other use cases have already been established. However, I am specifically referring to uses related to Street View.
It’s certainly an intriguing product, and if nothing else, it may lead to more Street View content, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
