How do that do this? No gravity?

[micky]

OT

I'm used to seeing the shadow of the Google street view camera when it's atop a car, but they also now have street view of bicycle and walking paths. Okay, but how is it that they take a picture from above the cameraman without showing what is holding the camera up?

In this view, you can see the top of his helmet, but there is nothing between the helmut and the vantage point of the camera. Even though using the mouse you can rotate what direction you are looking, and look down to the helmet, and see no connectino between what must be a camera (since there are pictures) and the helmet and presumably the head underneath it!

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4147817,-76.8195687,3a,75y,290.64h,17.18t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAF1QipMJhVBVz4O5g_FEaOF8rQr9-iEEE59krpMNX5b4!2e10!3e11!7i3840!8i1920?hl=en

[Ed Pawlowski]

Camera mounted directly atop the helmet. Many types available

[gfretwell]

I don't have a clue but I bet if you poke around a little Google will show you a picture of that camera rig.

[hubops]

Ya think ?

John T.

[micky]

I know there are small cameras. That doesn't answer my question.

When google maps edits out license plates, it shows a blurry rectangle, not a clear picture of the bumper of the car that is under the license plate. It doesn't have x-ray vision.

But that doesn't explain things either.

Since one can pan up or down almost 180^, it maybe that the cameras have an almost 180^ lens, although that seems unlikely since there is none of the distortion that afaik a fish-eye lens always gives.

Regardless, using the hardware in the link just above, if the front facing camera will photograph the users head with no sign of the post that supports the camera, then what about the rear-facing camera? How does it photograph his head without the support post being in the shot.

It seems that it may be related to there being more than one side-by-side photo that is blended together seamlessly, but that would not explain it either, since How can there be even one photo that starts from the other side of the post from the user's head and yet shows the helmet but does not include the post that supports the camera.

When street-view photos taken from a car are posted, you can pan down there too, but never far enough to see the roof of the car, so this issue hasn't come up before.

[Jim Joyce]

GoPro cameras have the capability to digitally remove any visible means of support - right there in the camera software - so no postprocessing is required. I frequently see it being done when people use a GoPro with a selfie stick but clearly Google is doing it here, as well.

[micky]

By golly.

and [maybe it wasn't a gopro, check this out] this appears to be a dual lens 360 degree camera that has a blind spot directly below, where the mount is. The video is stitched together but the blind spot is left out meaning if you keep the mount straight down from the camera it is invisible but you can still use the 360 degree capability to get the self angle. Looks awesome!

Trying to find it, I saw it on insta last night and am having a hard time tracking it down. You could see the shadow of a selfie stick and a hand that was clearly gripping a mount but the mount itself was completely invisible

Next thing you know there will be pictures of someone shooting someone (a disliked politician?) and the shooter will be automatically blanked out and replaced with someone the photographer doesn't like.

I guess so far this only works for stills, not video.

[Marilyn Manson]

Have you never heard of Deep Fakes?

[Jim Joyce]

Sounds like you've been following Florida politics.

In secret recording, Florida Republican threatens to send Russian-Ukrainian ?hit squad? after rival

?I really don't want to have to end anybody's life for the good of the people of the United States of America. ... But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done," William Braddock says in the clip.

MIAMI ? A little-known GOP candidate in one of Florida?s most competitive congressional seats was secretly recorded threatening to send ?a Russian and Ukrainian hit squad? to a fellow Republican opponent to make her ?disappear.?

During a 30-minute call with a conservative activist that was recorded before he became a candidate, William Braddock repeatedly warned the activist to not support GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna in the Republican primary for a Tampa Bay-area congressional seat because he had access to assassins. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), who is running for governor.

?I really don't want to have to end anybody's life for the good of the people of the United States of America,? Braddock said at one point in the conversation last week, according to the recording exclusively obtained by POLITICO. ?That will break my heart. But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. Luna is a f---ing speed bump in the road. She's a dead squirrel you run over every day when you leave the neighborhood.?

[more at the link above]

[micky]

Of course I have but they're not done automatically.

[micky]

So he has high standards, only kills people when it's necessary.

Start off insulting Democrats and before you know it they're killing Republicans.

But it sounds bogus. I don't think the Russians and Ukrainians have gotten along for years.

Only if it needs to be done!!

I like squirrels.