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Google integrates book search and mapping service
Google has begun integrating its mapping service with its book search engine, which will allow people to instantly find the places they come across in books.The search engine is planning to create the world's biggest database of books, scanning every book ever published and making the texts fully searchable, a move that has provoked considerable controversy because of potential copyright breaches.
Already up and running in a beta version at books.google.com, the service could soon be the subject of federal lawsuits brought by writer groups and the Authors Guild, the New Yorker reports.
Some books that have been included in the mapping service include Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days' and 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. Clicking on words pinpointing certain locations in the books will direct readers straight to relevant maps.
"We hope this feature helps you plan your next trip, research an area for academic purposes, or visualise the haunts of your favourite fictional character," said Google engineer David Petrou.
The move comes as Google is branching out into various areas, including print ad placements and online video advertisements.
Google News posted on 29 January 2007
