Yet another amazing idea from Google, a company that seems to take the concept of no boundaries to expand very seriously.
Shortly after writing about their underwater photos in Google maps comes this patent that might bring to life a rather different idea that might boost the zoom limits of any connected device’s camera. The idea patented by the limitless Google is expressed on US Patents like this extract:
The capture and zooming limitations of the user device are overcome by replacing, supplementing or otherwise enhancing the image taken with one or more geo-coded images stored in a database. For instance, if the user attempts to zoom in on a feature of an object of interest and exceeds the zooming capability of the user device, a request is sent to a remote server to provide an image showing the feature of the object of interest at a desired resolution.
Sounds wicked to you? I see some genius in it. Think about it, there are a gazillion photos of the Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower or any major tourist attraction. And the odds are somebody has already taken exactly that photo you are trying to capture. And some of these photos were zoomed to a larger extent than your camera is able to. Than the genie at Google servers would understand what you want, notice that you’ve reached your zoom limit and kindly download the photo you wanted to you. Wow!
I understand that many people are already complaining about the problems they see on this. Some of the major issues I read are:
- Some say there will be copyright issues,
- others mumble that it is not actually your picture,
- there are even people saying that nobody would want that.
I imagine the list of possible complaints to be limitless. But I prefer to take a different approach to this. First of all I do believe that it is better to think big and then handle the minor issues than limit your creativity by keeping excessive energy on the problems that might happen. I love this about Google, they seem to keep pushing forward, despite already being number one and being considered advanced in their domains. I see this with Apple and some very limited assortment of companies that – if they manage to keep this mindset – should never see the sad lines written about Kodak and so many other good but obsolete (and to some extent blind) companies.
Please don’t get me wrong. First of all I do not criticize the people that see the problems. They are actually needed on the creation process. Second, I understand that there are limits to where companies can go without hurting sensible human parts, like the very sensible copyright receptors in our brains and the privacy nerves all humans should care about so much. But I do see easy solutions to the main gripes:
- Copyright: Wouldn’t it be as simple as Google asking for permission or even owning the copyrights for the images? Come on, the dudes have the whole planet in pictures!
- Someone else’s pictures: I do think this might not be important to many people. Again it is simple: you don’t like it? Easy, don’t use it. Either buy a bigger zoom lens or don’t take that picture!
- Nobody wants that: well, I am willing to bet high that Google has more goals than bad moves on their history. And they certainly have the resources and cash to stand by their creations. Who knows what might come from this? Maybe at some future time it will figure on the company’s yearly clean up list, or maybe this is the next big move. IF it comes to life, only time will tell.
The things that I would really like to know or be worried about:
- quality control – nobody would like to get an out of focus or overexposed zoom. And I for one would never want to receive a photo with some Instagram like effects, please!
- update frequency – some landmarks and attractions might change over time and it might be a huge spoiler to come home and have a friend spot the “mistake” on the picture,
- resolution X size – it might be important to be able to choose between an Instagram ready low res picture or a D800 gigantic printing size,
- It would be very nice to receive suggestions and indications of similar items and things we might like, based on the photos we’ve taken and on our GPS coordinates.
Regardless of the discussions that may come out of this idea, I admire when a giant can keep that spark alive and “keep walking”, keep trying to do more, to be more. And hopefully this might lead us to wearing Google glasses and who knows what more those crazy brains might think about. And you, what is your opinion on this? And what would you add or take from this idea? Send an e-mail or post you comment below.
via NBC
