The Met’s new Greek and Roman galleries
Posted on June 25, 2007
The New York Times has published an interactive that puts you inside the Met’s new Greek and Roman galleries. This package is full of some interactive goodies, so plan to spend a little virtual time here.
Hear art critic Michael Kimmelman describe the history of these spaces and why they work while you view panoramic photos of the rooms.
But for the best part (I think), click on the “panoramas of the objects” tab and see the artwork in 3-D space by rotating it around 360 degrees. I’m not sure how they did this, though — all the tutorials I can find require the object sit on a turntable. I’m guessing that wasn’t the case in this situation.
Navigating the D.C. Mixing Bowl
Posted on June 25, 2007
I lived and worked in Washington, D.C., for 8 years and am all-too familiar with the nightmare traffic congestion that happens on the Beltway (I-495) — particularly where it meets I-395 (a major East Coast north-south artery that passes through the city). They call this tangle of roads the “Mixing Bowl.”
The Washington Post today wrote a story about the confusion and frustration drivers still experience, even though the reconstruction of the road pattern is complete:
“After eight years and $676 million, all of the swirling ramps and bridges are open at the Springfield interchange, and traffic is flowing freely through one of the busiest crossroads on the East Coast, where interstates 95 and 395 hit the Capital Beltway.
But there is growing concern that navigating the new Mixing Bowl’s 50 ramps and 24 lanes is confusing and could be creating different safety problems.”
Add-ons to this story include a 2-D graphic and a video that takes you on a ride through.
Both are a disappointment. Here’s why:
1.) The audio is horrible, and the video doesn’t work either — they’re putting me in the driver’s seat, but I can’t read most of the street signs.
2.) A 2-D graphic? Sigh. If you’re going to do this, at least give me a link back to the story.
3.) Why not combine the two? The video starts with a map, but it fails to fully illustrate where the narrator is while he’s describing the traffic. I have driven those roads, so I can visualize where he’s at as he describes the route, but I think someone who’s never been there might get confused. (And come on, this is made for those who haven’t driven the roads. The Mixing Bowl has been under construction for 8 years — Washingtonians know how crazy the maze is.)
Gotcha
Posted on June 5, 2007
And here’s what can happen when you truly do make something interactive:
“One of Britain’s most wanted men has been arrested after being featured on the Sky News website. Police had been hunting the 62-year-old man in connection with the murder of a woman in Cannock, Staffordshire. Detectives said that the arrest came from people looking at our interactive map, which forms part of our Crime Uncovered section.”
How about that?
Clicking around on the site, I found another nice interactive about keeping your home safe from these criminals. The video was a tad bit jumpy for me. Not sure if that’s how it is or if it’s my connection.
(The interactive map application was made by Puffbox; link found via Martin Stabe’s del.icio.us bookmarks)
Where’s the interactivity?
Posted on June 5, 2007
Oh, I’m so disappointed. The headline “Attention Google map surfers” on USATODAY.com’s Interactivity blog caught my attention. This’ll be good, I immediately thought.
The post explains how the interactive came about (it goes with a print story by Craig Wilson about how Google’s map service is picking up rooftop messages) and highlights that readers can submit their own images of rooftop announcements, ads, etc.
They urge us:
“So, go to Google Maps and start surfing! I did, and spent a happy hour skimming major cities and suburbs searching for messages.”
Sounds great.
>> Except there’s no link to the interactive on USATODAY.com.
>> There’s no link to Google Maps
>> When I go to the text story (this link IS provided) I only see two photos. This is a gallery?? That’s all that could be found during an hour of surfing?
>> And as for the interactivity — readers have to e-mail in their photo samples? Really?? C’mon. That’s so last year. This is supposed to be Web 2.0, no? Where reader interaction is most accessible and instantaneous?
Celebrity March Mania
Posted on March 28, 2007
OK, I have to confess. This interactive, by USATODAY.com has me repeatedly coming back to the site to find out if brains, beauty, brawn or beast will be the celebrity champion (my money’s on McDreamy!).
How’s that for stickiness?
Unlikely Passage
Posted on March 22, 2007
Why can’t I come up with story pitches like this? A few Miami Herald photographers (including Chuck Fadely) are sailing around Florida by way of Lake Okeechobee and blogging about it on “Unlikely Passage.”
Fun, fun, fun. For the journalists on the trip AND the readers watching along.
I wish they listed more details in the about section. How long will they be on the trip? And the blog lacks an “intro” posting.
I hope to see more videos and photo galleries (it doesn’t sound like they have good audio equipment from this post).
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