Google Maps has added Boston to its new Street View feature, which allows you to see surprisingly clear 360-degree, street-level images of the city. The tool is great for exploring an area you are considering visiting or moving to, getting visual cues before you try to find somewhere new, or just wasting a little time looking at your own stomping ground.
The street-level images were gathered over the past year from special camera-equipped cars and vans that drove around the Boston area. The area covered reaches outward from Boston to include some parts of Worcester and Quincy. Providence, R.I., is also available.
How it works
Google's Street View feature is relatively easy to use once you know how. Start by going to Google Maps. Click on the Street View button, then the camera icon over Boston, and zoom in. From here you can navigate around the city by moving the small human icon around the map. Take a virtual walking tour of Boston by using the tool's direction controls or by moving the human icon. You can move to a different area of Boston by dragging the icon to another point on the map or by clicking on any street that has a blue border.More instructions on how to use Google Street View are available at the Google Maps page.
Privacy concerns
When Street View first launched, some people expressed concerns about the potential intrusion on privacy. The images are very clear and individuals are identifiable, but Google has said that the images are all taken in public areas and should present no invasion of privacy.
