Further Research for Web Based Idea

I'm undecided if this idea goes ahead whether to use a 'Google Earth' approach to the world or whether an atlas view is the way to go with this one.

Looking at Google Earth, I again need to be careful if using a similar design as not to replicate the idea of this. Google Earth allows you to navigate around the earth and zoom in on countries, regions, towns etc. The difference with the web based idea I have and Google earth is that rather than being a static collection of satellite images, my idea will use constantly updated images from users uploading images that will controlled by time in terms of the time of day the image is shot.

the world view will be more of a live representation of time with half the 'world' in darkness and half in light. The ability to zoom in will occur how ever not as in depth as Google earth, but will show countries in full with thumbnails of the uploaded images to represent the landscape.

Researching Current Image Sharing Continued

For the idea of creating an immersive 3D environment, there is a technology developed by Microsoft called 'PhotoSynth' The video below provides a good demonstration of what the technology can do. This is the Image sharing application I need to be most wary of in terms of how my idea represents an environment. PhotoSynth basically creates a virtual on screen 3D environment by taking a number of uploaded images to create 3D representations of buildings inside and out, as well as landscapes etc.

Researching Current Image Sharing

I need to look into they types of current image sharing websites and applications that are available for use and how my idea differs from them.

One of the most popular sites for users to upload images is Flickr.com. This is a free service that offers uploading of images. This is what the site states within the "Tour" section....

"What is Flickr?

Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Let us show you why!

Flickr is a way to get your photos and videos to the people who matter to you. And since basic accounts are free, there's no reason not to explore further...

Upload

Upload from your desktop, send by email, or use your cameraphone.

Edit

Get rid of red eye, crop a photo, or get creative with fonts and effects!

Organize

Use collections, sets, and tags to organize your photos and videos.

Share

Use groups and privacy controls to share your photos and videos.

Maps

Share where your photos and videos were taken, and see photos and videos taken near you.

Make Stuff

Sexy cards, photo books, framed prints, Target pick up, DVDs, etc.

Keep in Touch

Get updates from family and friends."

"Maps

Great shot - where'd you take that?

Flickr's great for exploring photos and videos by photographer, tag, time, text, and group, and now it's also great for exploring photos and videos by place.

Map showing geotagged photos

Drag-and-drop your photos and videos onto a map (using the Organizr) to show where you took them, or browse a world map to see where other people have been and what they saw."

The maps section of Flickr is the one I need to compare with the most. This option allows users to tag images according to their location of which they were taken. The images are then pin pointed on a map (similar to google maps) and are popped up when rolled over. This then allows the user to scroll through the images tagged under that region.

Another similar sharing site is PhotoBucket. Pretty much the same features as Flickr offers. It again ahas the ability to create albums, upload videos, as well as sharing photos and videos with friends you have on the site. I should point out that both Flickr and Photobucket offer an 'add friends' option... giving the sites a social networking slant oposed to just a site that allows uploading.

I should mention Facebook at this point. Primarily a social network, the site does give an option to upload Images in the form of Galleries. Again a similar layout and style as Flickr and Photobucket.

Is this Generative Art?

"Generative art refers to any art practice where the artist creates a process, such as a set of natural language rules, a computer program, a machine, or other procedural invention, which is then set into motion with some degree of autonomy contributing to or resulting in a completed work of art." (Philip Galanter).

The two ideas pretty much fall under the category of Generative Art due to the autonomy that will be used in order to randomise the images. Although the data of Time Zones also plays a role in the type of image being displayed (i.e. Day or Night). The tagging system of the images location and the time of day the photo was taken will be predetermined and will link with other images of this kind in order to achieve a number of similar images.... this will be one of the only planned and controlled methods for displaying the right type of image depending on the time. The Region/ country where the image belongs is the second controlled method, the rest of the images will be automated at random within Flash or Java.

Two Ideas

My idea is to create a social image sharing application/website. I have two ideas for this, one alot bigger than the other but both incorporating the same sort of idea.

The first idea is a web based application that the user uploads images of areas and regions from around the world which are then tagged and categorised with other users images of the same areas. The images are then positioned on a globe or atlas graphic. I hope to to use a combination of Java and Flash to control data regarding time zones which will categorise the images into there zone which will result in the randomising of the images displayed on the globe depending on the time.

The second idea is to again use a upload system of images and still using timezone data create an immersive environment of a single area (e.g. TimesSquare New York) and project the images to create a 3D scene of the area.

These two ideas are kind of an extension of the Google Earth idea but presenting it in accordance to the time of day and the use of randomisation.