Even Charlottetown PEI is included

Victoria Row, Charlottetown, PEI click on the picture and enter the civic address

Goggle Street View now includes most cities and towns in Canada including those Prince Edward Island, the smallest province.

Google Street View works by linking street level photographs with Google Maps. You type in an address and Google presents you with a map. Right click on the mouse and one of the options is “Street View.” The phenomenon is best experienced, not explained to try it.

Once you are in Street View, you can browse around like walking up or down the street, turning around, looking up or looking down.

Some people find it cool: some think it is intrusive. Google will see and tell all in real time

One enterprising young musician heard that the Street View team was photographing his city so he positioned himself in front of the camera team several times during the day as a street busker. His picture complete with sign appears in Google Street View.

Street View is typically Web 2.0 egalitarian. You can add your own pictures of street views. For instance, the Google team didn’t make it down Victoria Row but several photographers have added links to their pictures in Picasa as User Photos.

Beyond curiosity, Street View ties into the Android cell-phone by providing street views, directions, and information about businesses that are near your location.

You can also use it to check out vacation spots ahead of time. Google has a grand vision of Street View’s usefulness including, “explore parts of the world you’ve always wanted to visit, use your mobile device to see what your transit stop looks like. check parking availability and disabled access, show your parents and friends where you live, and preview your vacation accommodation.”