Reflective Statment

Although never really vocalizing it I guess my focus for this module has always been based around the virtual space of the Internet and how it relates to the real world. My original thoughts on this project revolved around the idea of virtual tourism, as it was to some extent something I had done before. Trying to find place I had read or heard about on Google earth to gain some kind of real world sense of it.

However I became slightly side tracked with my idea of utilizing the local webcam I had discovered. Turning my thinking on its head in that instead of placing myself virtually in a distant location I wanted to place something in a real location, which would result in it being made present in the virtual world. Which other people would be able to view from anywhere in the world. However my plan became overly complex and by the time I was ready it was no longer a possibility.

Falling back onto my original idea of virtual tourism I decided to pick a walking tour somewhere in the States. Originally looking at San Francisco and then later deciding on Boston ‘Freedom Trail’ I put my idea into practice. The experience was surprisingly engrossing and despite a few glitches it was surprisingly effective. Part of me did feel like Id been to Boston and having read the book as I had made my way along, I felt liked Id really learned something and been able to contextualize it.

Following on from this I struggled to conceive an idea for a final piece but eventually decided on an animation made from Google earth screens. My idea being to fully reflect the sense of 3d space in the real world which you can grasp from the Google world map (even prior to their later updates) I chose the Arc de Triomphe simply because it sits in the center of a roundabout and is a very well known landmark. The final animation is a Gif so that the rotation will run continually and also to maximize it for use on the internet.

Arc de Triomphe (revised)

as the google earth mobile obviously didn't circle the landmark all in one go the previous animation was a bit scatty. so i have selectivly omitted half the frames to make it look smoother and load faster.

Arc de Triomphe

Using the idea of the google earth mobile going round a roundabout as a revolving camera here is an animation I made of the Arc de Triomphe

Contextualisin With Cash

A Sunny Two Hours in Historic Boston

[1] Finding the start of the walk was incredibly easy. Typing in 'Boston, MA' into google maps too me right to  it. on the south side of Boston Common.

 However I instantly lost the trail as it cuts across the common and google street view only covers the road.

 However I was able to use the photo spots and drag myself from one to the other, making my way across the common towards [2] the state house.

Arriving at the state house and back on the street

Over the road is [3] the ShawMemorial

Turning right onto Park st brings me to [4] the Park St Church. Initially I was disappointed as this iconic building seemed to be undergoing renovation at the time of being photographed.

 However a short distance further onto Tremont st reveals the church in all its glory.

Next to the church is [5] the 'Old Granary Burying Ground' where some important people are buried

Such as Paul Revere whose grave I managed to find by stepping off the street and onto the photo spots again

Just down the street is [6] the "King's Chapel" and [7] the adjacent burial ground

 Taking a right down school street, alongside the Chapel brings me to [8] the 'Globe Corner Bookstore'

 and a short walk right down Washington street reveals [9] the 'Old South Meeting House'

 Doubling back on myself and heading back up Washington brings me [10] the 'Old State House'

 and here it is from the other side, showing the balcony where many important people have given speeches.

 The trail continues north to [11] Faneuil Hall were I again loose the trail and must resort to photo spots.

 and continue to do so up untill reaching [12] the 'Union Oyster House'

 rejoining the road at Marshal street this is the best shot of the Oyster House I can get

 a little further down Marshall street brings me to [13] the 'Boston Stone' which thanks to Google images I now know is the little circular thing to the bottom right of the door in this screen shot.

 while trying to cros the road to [14] the Hay market I kept finding myself underground on the John Fitzgerald Expressway which was very annoying. The market was a bit of a none event anyway.

 Just round the corner from the market and down Hanover street has to be, for me as I imagine it is for many others a great highlight of the Trip [15] the House of Paule Revere.

 and just a little further is Paul Rever mall where I cant go. So heres one end of it

 and heres the other.

Which brings me to the next site of great significance, [16] the 'Old North Church'

 and heres it from the front

 just up the road behind me is [17] 'Cop's Hill Burying Ground' and from here its quite a way until the final stop on the tour.

 Just approaching the Charlestown Bridge

 crossing the Charlestown Bridge and looking out to sea. Note the North Church steeple can be seen from here

 again accidentally finding myself underground

 and as for street view this is all it lets me see of the final destination on the route, [18] the USS constitution

 Luckily, however, someone has uploaded a cracking pic to a photo spot and I end my educational journey round historical boston pretty satisfied.

I can also tell from the time in the screenshot file names that this virtual journey took me around 2 hours to complete. The guide book claims the tour should take around half a day (if doing it for real)

Book Scans

Here is the book I will be using for reference on my trip.

Change of Destination

After talking to my mum about the idea and askin if she had a book on SF I could borrow she mentioned an alternative destination. The Boston Freedom trail is a walking tour of boston which passes many historial locations from the time surrounding the war of independence. I have decided to take this walk instead of my trip to San Francisco as I also have a desire to go to boston and take a great interest in history. This is also probably americas most popular walking tour which makes it seem even more appropriate. The walk is also physically marked on the boston streets using a line of red bricks. This will make the walk even easier to follow accurately and is also interesting in that it is similar to the way google street view offers an augmented version of reality by adding lines and street names over the photographs.