Streetview takes my picture

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=320+Pioneer+Way,+Mountain+View+CA&sll=37.386911,-122.067533&sspn=0.002285,0.003798&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=320+Pioneer+Way,+Mountain+View,+Santa+Clara,+California+94041&ll=37.386819,-122.067509&spn=0.000567,0.00095&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=37.386911,-122.067533&panoid=mi5fa5lWQu7R8nxKc_F7mw&cbp=12,230.84,,3,4

by pg • 16 years ago

72 35 16 years ago

maps.google.com

pg• 16 years ago

At first I thought, what an amazing coincidence. But actually the odds of this happening are reasonably high.

I can't quite tell who I'm talking to without seeing their faces. From the postures it looks like it might be the RethinkDBs.

Edit: No, turns out it was the Picwings.

RiderOfGiraffes• 16 years ago

My parents are on StreetView. It would be interesting to try to calculate the odds of a given individual being caught.

socratees• 16 years ago

Assuming you're at work, and you spend 30 minutes of a day where you could be caught on camera, and assuming Google streetview vehicle passes through your road once every year, what is the probability of you getting caught on camera? Also we should take in to factor you don't and streetview vehicle work only from 9-5.

nikolayav• 16 years ago

Simply put, I counted 6 people reporting this here (I am one). My attempt to estimate how many people read this: X HN daily actives, each looks at Y threads a day (random out of 30 they see), one in Z posts to the thread.

Quick check with Alexa gave me something on the order of 2 million for X, that seems really high to me, let's say X=100k (even this seems very generous). Y and Z are pretty tricky, using a gut guess of Y = 5 and Z = 10:

6 * Z / ((Y * X) / 30 ) = (6 * Z * 30) / (X * Y) = 6 * 10 * 30 / (100000 * 5) = 0.0036 = 0.36%

0.36% of the HN audience. Very back-of-the-envelope.

dabent• 16 years ago

My Mom is on street view. It was hilarious to see the look on her face when I first showed her.

whatusername• 16 years ago

So is my grandmother. We've decided not to show her as it would just stress her out.

spuz• 16 years ago

You're the one on the left, right?

savrajsingh• 16 years ago

look for the shorts.

dbz• 16 years ago

I've always wondered what the great mastermind PG looks like!

mrduncan• 16 years ago

If you're really that curious: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/137275735_6ba4ac4e5a.jpg

showerst• 16 years ago

You too, huh?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=38....

Almost spooky how identifiably clear mine is. Subway totally owes me a kickback for the free advertising.

petercooper• 16 years ago

I should be on Street View as one went past while my wife and I were walking along from one of our first visits when she was pregnant. That was at least 10 months ago and the area we were in still isn't on Street View (rural UK). Anyone know how long it takes? :-)

sailormoon• 16 years ago

I think they do multiple passes, and some passes are rejected - or the car could have been on its way somewhere else. I've seen the cars numerous times and never fail to stare dumbly at them but as far as I know none of those takes were used ..

omgsean• 16 years ago

They caught me drinking! (I'm across from the guy with the hat) http://bit.ly/Rz2GB

s3graham• 16 years ago

Can't beat these guys http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&...

"Walk" east!

ryanelkins• 16 years ago

Wow. If you go West once and look to the right they appear to be just kicking back reading the paper in some lawn chairs. They then proceed to chase the streetview car down the road as it moves east.

raheemm• 16 years ago

Great find! They are indeed!

ashishbharthi• 16 years ago

Why they have blurred their faces though? Or they blur all the faces on streetview?

arohner• 16 years ago

Google has a face-blurring algorithm. Amusingly, it catches things like faces on billboards and horses!

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/05/14/google-blurs-horse-...

moo• 16 years ago

Maybe the front guy forgot to spit in his diving mask.

zandorg• 16 years ago

Funny the sidebar ad is for iRobot! Making ad dollars off PG?

paulgb• 16 years ago

I got a robot-related ad also. It's not a coincidence, Google must know that 320 Pioneer way is the HQ of Anybots and show related ads.

gcb• 16 years ago

javan2• 16 years ago

They took mine too: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&...

gbookman• 16 years ago

I never knew people rode bikes in LA, interesting :D

javan2• 16 years ago

It's mostly flat and the weather's perfect, what more do you need?

paul92902• 16 years ago

OMG the privacy implications of this will create a huge BUZZ!

paul92902• 16 years ago

corny I know, but was this not posted by the site's admin for fun? I just got tired of everyone going on and on about BUZZ and privacy.

gcheong• 16 years ago

Maybe there's a business opportunity here in vanity StreetView shots?

Streetview takes my picture

Related Stories