Google Maps Sees Every Nook and Cranny Inside Buildings
- By Ginger Hill
- Sep 04, 2014
Google has this “thing” about being the all-knowing source of all information no matter what the subject, but I honestly have issues with their latest idea. Cartographer is a small computer that is strapped to a person’s body for the “betterment of spreading information.” Basically, Google wants to use this tool to map things, namely the insides of buildings. 
This computer, with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology, is connected to an Android tablet so that as people walk around with it strapped to their backs, a map, within 3.9 inches of accuracy, is created. People with the connected Android tablet can view what’s happening and add points of interest in real time.
While Google believes this technology will be useful for events like concerts, conferences and trade shows, as a security professional, I can see this technology used as casing for burglars, privacy invasion and just plain lack and breach of safety and security inside facilities.
As a join-effort project between Google’s Cultural Institute and their indoor maps team, the first to be shown are six indoor maps including one of all 39 stories of the Marriott Marquis hotel in San Francisco, in which can be viewed on Google maps.
Image: Bloomua / Shutterstock.com
About the Author
Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.