As you probably know, our modern world (at least among first world countries) is saturated with webcams -- surveillance cameras, traffic cameras, etc. Many are available for free watching online; for example, just typing:
"inurl:"viewerframe?mode=motion"
into Google will get you quite a few.
Now, there are already sites that collect links webcams, like http://www.earthcam.com/. My idea however, is to build a website that collects all the webcams out there, even the boring/useless street corner security cams, and organizes them geographically, perhaps in sync with Google maps. Cameras could be submitted and moderated wiki style.
The idea would be that eventually, there would be enough cameras to "tour" a city live. The website could detect the location of the next nearest camera in any given direction, so you easily move to it. If there were enough cameras added to the site, you might even be able to "follow" people around.
Of course, the logistics and feasibility of implementing this sort of website are probably a nightmare, not to mention possible legal costs. However, conceptually speaking, I think it would be unique and fun. Let me know your ideas...
> As you probably know, our modern world (at least among first world countries)
Actually that is not true. The countries that have cameras [i]probably[/i] have a contract with America/England in some way.
> The idea would be that eventually, there would be enough cameras to "tour" a city live.
Too bad google has already implemented this feature with a FRIKIN satelite (take a look at maps.google.com or google earth application). :/
I'm not sure what you mean by the countries have a contract with America/England, why would a country like Japan--which has quite a few webcams--need a contract with America/England? I'm not exactly sure what your point is. And even if a site only had cameras from America, England and Japan, it would still be interesting.
As cool as Google Maps / Earth are, they aren't Live. I find it much more interesting to watch time pass in another location than to see a static image of that location as it was some arbitrary time ago. Of course, not everybody cares about live images, but I'm sure there are other people out there like me who enjoy watching city streets in distant locations with the knowledge of the action's synchronicity. Besides, how else would you stalk people from afar?
> synchronicity
that word doesn't mean what you think it means.
>>that word doesn't mean what you think it means.
Inconthievable!