See the related links for a picture of a Google Street View car. The picture should answer the question. And yes, they literally did drive these or something very like them down every street for which there are street view images.
Google Maps has Street View imagery and Bing Maps has Streetside eye-level view, both of which capture imagery from street level. You can also download Google Earth from Google's website for advanced features including Street View.
I often wondered the same thing. Here's what I found out: http://lifentechnology.blogspot.com/2007/09/googles-street-view-is-human-viewof.html Since coming across similar articles online, I emailed Immersive Media, to find out if this is true.
Google Street View in Canada was created in 2009.
Google Street View was created on 2007-05-25.
If you mean the google street view cars, then here is your answer: When it was launched on May 25, 2007, only five cities were included. It has since expanded to more than 40 U.S. cities, and includes the suburbs of many, and in some cases, other nearby cities. I happened to see a google car pass by MY house. AND I saw myself on google street view when I was viewing my house! Another time I saw it, I followed it with my car, then I went on google street view in the same location where I was following it, and I saw my CAR on google street view!
Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth launched in 2007.
Were you in one? Google Street View is still working in Germany but after winter I'm gonna show the peace sign to Google street view car!
It may not be possible to remove your house from overhead maps, but if you send a request to Google asking them to remove your house from Street View they may blur it if they approve it. You must select "Report a Problem" link at bottom right of Street View then select "Privacy Concerns".
Street View was launched in May 2007.
Germany does not have Google Street View due to privacy concerns raised by the government and citizens.