Google is Loaning Out Its Trekker Street View Camera Backpacks

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Google has had no issues expanding street view to some pretty amazing places. Thanks in large part to the company’s trekker backpacks, we can now visit the Grand Canyon, explore Central Park and check out the view from the world’s tallest peaks.

But the company isn’t above asking others to help expand the “off-road” street view repertoire, and so Google is announcing plans to loan out those expensive Trekkers to worthy third party organizations.

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The announcement comes courtesy of Google’s Lat Long Blog. “We’re working to build the very best map of the world, and we’d love your help to do it,” says Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager. “Today we’re kicking off a pilot program that enables third party organizations to borrow the Street View Trekker and contribute imagery to Google Maps.”

Here’s a quick ad Google has put together for the pilot program:

The first organization to get its hands on Google’s Trekkers is the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), and they’ve already started hiking across some of the states most beautiful scenery, taking pictures that will soon make their way onto Google Maps.

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Over the following months, Google is looking to add several more organizations to its list, and so the company has posted an online application form that any worthy “tourism board, non-profit, government agency, university, research organization or other entity interested in borrowing a Street View Trekker” should feel free to fill out.

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