Soon, Google online maps in real time videos

Southern California (US), July 13 (ANI): At first glance it looks like any other three dimensional map, but zoom in a little closer, and you will see cars moving and people walking around - all in real-time.

This is the world of 'geo-immersion' that blends the real and virtual worlds together to give the user the most interactive maps in the world.

Now, you can get real-time updates of your friends' locations, and real-time movements of public transportation, thanks to software developed by University of Southern California researchers.

They have fused real-time data with Google-like mapping software to enhance the utility of today's maps, the Daily mail reports.

The prototypes include a traffic tool that uses a standard Google map but overlays where cars will be using recent and historical data.

This allows users to plot the fastest route to their destination taking into account where other drivers will be.

Another application is called iCampus, which gives real-time locations for friends who have tweeted or logged in to places on Facebook or Foursquare.

Campus trams that are fitted with transmitters also appear on the maps so students can ensure they do not have to wait for them to turn up.

Also in development is iWatch which integrates a 3D map of a city with real-time inserts by CCTV cameras which are overlaid on the top and spring to life when a user zooms in on them.

"So you are immersed in that geographical area as if you are in the real world,' said University of Southern California computer scientist Cyrus Shahabi, the lead researcher.

The traffic map has been dubbed iTransportation and has so far only been developed for the Los Angeles area. (ANI)