With 15 lenses that fire constant panoramic photos, the Google Trekker is mapping out off-road trails and pathways for the experience of Google Street View. The backpack-like apparatus supports an orb of cameras, taking the software of Google Street View to map places like Venice, the Pyramids of Giza — and now Bucks County.
On Tuesday, May 19, the vice president of Visit Bucks County, Paul Bencivengo took the Trekker around the 134 acres of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, one the 12 parks that will be mapped with Trekker in Bucks County.
“They put the call out to official tourist agencies to apply,” Bencivengo said about the agency’s experience with Google.
Tourist boards, nonprofits, universities and research organizations applied for the Trekker without a fee. Google accepted certain organizations such as Visit Bucks County and sent the Trekker in pieces alongside an online course on the device’s construction and use, once again, without a fee.
Google employees work with the groups over the phone further demystify the usage of the Trekker.
“If there’s any technical problems, they’re right on the phone with us,” said Bencivengo.
People can use Google not only to research potential vacation areas, but to explore them with the utmost accessibility.
“For travel planning, it’s been the top referral to our website consistently for years,” said Rachel Lewullis, marketing and communications associate for Visit Bucks County. “This is just another way of getting our brand to the people.”
“We want to show visitors firsthand what it’s like to visit these parks and let them step into it,” said Bencivengo. “We say on our website the top 10 things to do in Bucks County. Now people can be immersed.”
Google Trekker marks the company’s continuing advances in travel-themed technology. For Google, the Trekker attracts internet users globally including tourists, universities and anyone who takes interest in strolling through a virtual Venice or Taj Mahal. For tourist agencies like Visit Bucks, the Trekker is another aspect of the tech scene that will make their parks more accessible to potential tourists.
“This is what people come to expect now with technology. People don’t just want to read about it,” said Bencivengo. “They want to experience it.”
