SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A Google camera system mounted on a backpack that’s carried by hikers is collecting panoramic views of city and county parks across Indiana to allow viewers to experience scenic treks without breaking a sweat.
South Bend Parks Director Aaron Perri was one of nearly 10 people who recently carried the Google Trekker along trails in the northern Indiana city for the off-road imaging effort.
Carrying the 48-pound device is a chore, but it has 15 cameras mounted within a green sphere above the carrier’s head that snap images that will be stitched together into panoramic photos.
The Indiana Parks and Recreation Association’s director, Lisa Nye, tells the South Bend Tribune the Trekker is touring 18 city and county parks across Indiana under an agreement between the group and Google.