Despite its dominance in the technological universe, even giants like Apple rely on human labor for specific and crucial tasks. In this case, the Cupertino company has deployed a unique team across Spain: the so-called “backpack men .” These are operators who carry an advanced portable system for capturing images and spatial data, a fundamental tool for enhancing and improving the experience of their mapping application, Apple Maps.
The images of these Apple “backpackers” have not gone unnoticed. According to El Correo, these devices have recently been spotted in the province of Bizkaia, confirming Apple’s deployment across Spain with the goal of capturing these valuable images until June 30.
Men with Apple backpacks walk the streets of Spain
Like Google with its iconic Google Maps cars, Apple also has a fleet of vehicles equipped with sophisticated sensors to map roads and paths. However, urban terrain and the existence of pedestrian areas or areas that are difficult for cars to access require alternative solutions. This is where the “backpack men” come into play. Since 2018, they have become the eyes of Apple Maps in places off-limits to vehicles, such as historic centers, parks, and trails.
These operators carry bulky backpacks housing a complex system of cameras and sensors. Their mission is to capture 360-degree images and precise spatial data of every corner, street, and trail they travel. This detailed information is essential for creating accurate and up-to-date maps, allowing Apple Maps users to navigate more accurately and explore places that would otherwise be virtually inaccessible.
Boosting ‘Look Around’
The images captured by these backpackers, like those obtained by Apple’s fleet of vehicles, also serve to optimize the Look Around feature. This feature, which allows detailed exploration of cities in Apple Maps, is the company’s answer to Google Maps’ Street View. Its goal is to offer users an immersive experience, allowing them to virtually tour locations from the comfort of their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
With ‘Look Around,’ users can move forward and backward along captured streets, as well as rotate at any angle to get a complete view of the surroundings. The accuracy of the images captured by the backpackers is crucial to delivering a smooth and realistic experience, especially in pedestrian and tourist-oriented areas.
The presence of Apple’s “backpackers” responds to a well-defined strategy to strengthen its mapping service. These operators, equipped with cutting-edge technology, are responsible for capturing the visual essence of places that vehicles cannot reach, enhancing the accuracy of maps, and enhancing the immersive “Look Around” feature, bringing the world closer to Apple Maps users.
