Derry finds itself well and truly Googled
The streets of Derry will soon be viewed around the world as a controversial internet mapping service hits the city.
Google cameras have been spotted in various locations across Derry in recent weeks, capturing thousands of images of streets, homes and people.
Belfast was one of the first cities to have its street-view map go live when the US internet giant launched the service on this side of the Atlantic in April.
A Google spokeswoman told the 'Journal' the internet giant did not have a list of cities currently being mapped by Google, but said that mapping the North's second city had been on the agenda following the successful mapping of Belfast.
"Street View is a hugely popular feature of Google Maps which is already available in more than 100 metropolitan areas around the world," the spokeswoman said.
"We launched Street View imagery in UK in April allowing people to view and navigate 360 degree street-level imagery in 25 British towns.
" In areas where Street View is available, you can access street-level imagery by zooming into the lowest level on Google Maps, or by dragging the orange 'Pegman' icon on the left-hand side of the map onto a blue highlighted street."
Eagle-eyed 'Journal' readers have spotted the camera cars in various parts of the city over recent weeks, including Northland Road, Glendermott Road and on Strand Road.
The Google spokeswoman said readers should also be on the look out for the Google trike - designed "to help Google make special imagery collections in places less accessible by cars such as historic landmarks," - over the summer months.
Since going live, Google has been forced to remove hundreds of images from its street-view application among privacy and security concerns.
Pictures that have been removed include a a man emerging from a sex shop in London's Soho district and another of a man being sick on the pavement outside a London pub.
In March the North's Police Federation chairman Terry Spence said thousands of PSNI officers and their families could be put at risk by the application.
"I would be very concerned if there turns out to be a potential compromise of a police officer's vehicle or home by this internet facility," he said.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
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