Google Goes Copperfield

Arturo Flores, a student at the University of San Diego (California), has developed an algorithm that could be pure gold for Google.

After launching its Street View tool, Google received numerous complaints from innocent bystanders captured in its online shots, unhappy with this apparent invasion of their privacy. However, the firm could now start using an algorithm to make passers-by magically disappear from its photos!

Flores has developed a system that compares two Street View shots taken from different angles. If a person appears in one photo but not the other, then they are automatically deleted from the scene.


The only drawback is that it doesn't work for people walking in the same direction as the camera, as the person will appear on several photos and will therefore be considered part of the scenery.


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