Google, Apple to produce aerial maps
June 11th, 2012 - 11:43 pm ICT by IANSLondon, June 11 (IANS) US technology giants Google and Apple are racing to produce aerial maps so detailed they can show up objects just four inches wide, Daily Mail reported Monday.
But campaigners say the technology is a sinister development that brings the surveillance society a step closer.
Google admits it has already sent planes over cities while Apple has acquired a firm using spy-in-the-sky technology that has been tested on at least 20 locations, including London.
Apple’s military-grade cameras are understood to be so powerful they could potentially see into homes through skylights and windows.
The technology is similar to that used by intelligence agencies in identifying terrorist targets in Afghanistan, the newspaper said.
Apple has previously used Google for its mapping services but last year it emerged it had bought C3 Technologies, a 3D mapping company that uses technology developed by Saab AB, the aerospace and defence company.
There are already 3D maps available online for most big city centres, but the images are often low resolution.
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- British spy planes grounded over safety fears - Apr 14, 2012
- Saab sets up Indian subsidiary - Sep 29, 2011
- Google to use 'spy drones' for street mapping - Aug 10, 2010
- Saab plans venture with HAL for weapons suite production - Feb 09, 2011
- Saab India Technology Centre opens in Hyderabad - Oct 21, 2011
- Google unveils new ultra-high speed internet - Jul 27, 2012
- '3 Idiots' UAV inducted into counter-insurgency operations - Jan 30, 2012
- Google 3D medical browser maps human body - Dec 17, 2010
- Now, drones to keep eye on trouble-makers in crowds - May 04, 2012
- Spies could use your TV to snoop on you - Mar 18, 2012
- 'Apple to become world's first $1 trillion company' - Apr 08, 2012
- Google Building Maker Launched - Oct 14, 2009
- Indian-run New Zealand firm designs UAV for cloud seeding - Mar 26, 2012
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