Street View Hyperlapse Tool Creates Mind-Bending Journeys

Google Street View is great — but do you ever feel like it just moves. Too. Slow?

If so, you're sure to enjoy a new tool that creates warp-speed Street View hyperlapse trips back and forth between pairs of points on a map.

Created by Teehan+Lax Labs, the page features a number of pre-programmed trips that are really cool. There's the Golden Gate Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Yosemite and other locations in places including South Africa, Norway and Australia. You can also create your own trips, although we found the actual usability of that part a bit tough to navigate. But hey — this thing is free and awesome and a sweet new time suck, so who are we to complain?

Watch the video above for more, or check it out for yourself.

1. 1. A Fleet at the Ready

   Take a minute and think about the gargantuan task of photographing every inch of road in the world. Is your mind blown? Now you may understand why Google needs so many cars.

   

2. 2. Google Goes Green With a Tricycle

   Sometimes Google has to employ a tricycle for those hard-to-reach streets. Using a trike also decreases the carbon footprint created by sending a bunch of cars to just drive around.

   

3. 3. Google Respects Everyone's Privacy

   There has been much controversy swirling around how the tech behemoth handles the data it collects on the public, but this is proof that Google wants to keep everyone's most personal information anonymous -- even if they're not really people at all.

   

4. 4. Hold Up, Wait for Me, Google! Part 1

   Some people see the Google cars right away and make an effort to be noticed. This guy is certainly a strong contender to be the leader of the group. Check out the next few pics to see his comrades.

   

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6. 6. Hold Up, Wait for Me, Google! Part 3 - Scooter Gang

   This looks like a shot right out of an '80s movie where the lovable main character is getting chased home from school by three bullies on much more powerful, motorized scooters.

   

7. 7. Hold Up, Wait for Me, Google! Part 4 - Poppin' Wheelies

   If anyone ever has doubt about this kid's ability to pop a sick wheelie, he need only refer to them to Google Maps, the ultimate proof.

   

8. 8. Who's Filming Whom?

   Let's be honest. If you saw the Google car going through your block, you'd be curious what it is, too. You might even bust out your camcorder and film the event if you had one in your backseat. Looks like these guys did just that.

   

9. 9. The Whole Internet Caught You Ogling That Lady in Miami

   Maybe next time, this guy will be a little more subtle about checking out the next woman that walks by him. Or at least he'll be more aware of the car with the giant orb on the roof? Let's hope so.

   

10. 10. Risking It All for Just One Peek

    Guys in Italy apparently have much in common with guys in Florida. This man is a little bolder though. We wonder how he chose what to look at - the strange Google camera car or the attractive girl on the sidewalk? We just hope this wasn't a fateful glance like the driver in the next photo.

    

11. 11. First Responder or Cause of Accident

    You: Officer, I was distracted by the car with Google graphics all over it and a six-foot beam with a giant camera orb attached to the top!

    Officer: Sorry, you're still at fault. Here's your ticket.

    

12. 12. Remote Garage Gone Wrong

    A slew of new mobile apps allow you to open and close your garage door when you're miles away from home. Maybe this is evidence that it's better to press the button while you're there.

    

13. 13. Not-So-Subtle Hello

    Either this guy isn't too hip on the idea of the Google Street View camera or he really has to go to the bathroom.

    

14. 14. You're Gonna Need a Higher Fence

    Sure, that fence would easily keep out the prying eyes of the few people walking by, but will it keep out the curious eyes of everyone else using the Internet? Start investing in fence companies - they're probably going to start seeing an uptick in materials needs.

    

15. 15. Dude, Where's My Bike?

    We're not sure, but we don't think there are any bikes down there. But maybe...

    

16. 16. Low Bridge - er, Leaf

    A camera on top of a long pole on top of a car is bound to run into some low-hanging objects every now and again.

    

17. 17. Into the Weird

    Of course, you knew these kinds of photos were coming. People do weird things and the omni-present street cam will catch you doing the weird things that you do. Like this guy, pulling his penguin friend around while riding his giant bicycle.

    

18. 18. Image Flaw

    Sometimes the Google Street Cam melds two images together to form entirely new things! Like this photo of Alex from Madagascar turned into a strange lion cyclops.

    

19. 19. Stop Looking at Me, Seagull!

    Apparently avian species are also curious about the globe-like camera device attached to roofs of Google cars.

    

20. 20. Hello, Me

    If you look closely, you can see Google is smiling ear to ear.

    

Homepage image courtesy Teehan+Lax Labs