Microsoft unveiled a preview version of its Windows Live Local Technology, which will allow users to view a “street-side” perspective of local neighborhoods.

The “street-side” technology, according to Microsoft, will be used for its upcoming consumer local search and mapping site, according to a note sent to reporters Monday evening. “As an additional navigational tool, the street-side feature offers a vantage point similar to driving behind the wheel of a car for a close-up, street-level view,” the company said.

Only two neighborhoods will be supported in the technology’s initial release: the downtown “cores” of Seattle and San Francisco, as a way to provoke feedback from users. The street-side view will supplement aerial, road and bird’s eye views currently available in Windows Live Local, the company said.

The technology is being supplied by Facet Technology Corp., whose SightMap technology has already compiled 700 million high-resolution images — a total of 200 terabytes of data — of geomapped images.

Think satellite and birds-eye imagery was cool? Wait until you see streetlevel! Seattle alone is 10 million images.

Source: extremetech