Google ‘Hires’ A Camel For Street View Images of the Desert

by Vidisha Khaitan
Google ‘Hires’ A Camel For Street View Images of the Desert

Drones are old school, camels are the new trend. That’s right. Tech giant Google has taken creative problem solving to the desert. To capture 360-degree Street View images of the desert, Google hired a camel.

Google Hires Camel
Picture Credit – Design Boom

How Does It Work?

When all else failed, Google shifted from Street View cars to a low-tech solution. What better way to capture golden images of desert sand than aboard the mammal that has survived it. Everybody knows mankind’s most trusted mode of transport on sand is a tall humpy-grumpy camel. We just didn’t know it was Google’s too.

Google spokeswoman Monica Baz was reported as saying that they try to customize the venture particular to every environment and location. Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi is the largest oasis within the Arabian peninsula. The 100-kilometre wide area proved to be remote without any roads or drivable streets. But Google wasn’t backing down in this age of visual ecstasy. The camel’s back seemed like the best way to tackle the terrain, given its centuries of experience. A very large rotating Street View camera has been strapped to the back of a clueless camel called Raffia.

Google Hires Camel
Picture Credit – Design Boom

The 10-year-old Raffia is only visible as a shadow in shifting sands captured by the Street View camera. The crew and camel set out on a Street View Trek to discern the desert for Google Maps. This effort is first of its kind but could become the norm if successful. Google might soon be able to unravel lonesome lands of planet Earth for virtual traveling around the globe.

Humans have taken on the Street View Trek before to explore inaccessible areas. The Street View cars have famously toured across the world returning with remarkable pictures. People have also taken to them with glorious pranks of fake murders and childbirth.

Adapting To The Environment

Google Hires Camel
Picture Credit – Design Boom

The haven for tech innovators claims to have been careful to increase authenticity and decrease damages. Employing animals in their natural habitat will give human beings insight into spaces otherwise difficult to traverse. This is bound to boost tourism once potential travellers are intrigued by the culture and heritage of these destinations.

Raffia is Google’s attempt to minimize disruption in nature’s pristine landscapes. So, the camel walks around in its native environment, unwittingly creating masterpieces. We just hope he gets enough rest. The images of sunkissed sand dunes with no one there except a fleeting shadow of the photographer truly take your breath away. We can only imagine what Google plans to hire next. Any guesses?