Flabbergasting 3D map

A Norwegian take on global & domestic politics, culture, finance, media

Posted by Jarle Petterson on 6 November 2008 2 comments

I’ve been visiting a few websites recently, which took my breath away, almost literally, alternating with an occasional fit of hyperventilation, one of which makes Google Earth and Maps look hopelessly obsolete — Norwegian search engine Sesam’s “Sesam 3D-kart” (plugin installation required):

The royal castle in Oslo as seen in Sesam 3D-kart.

Here’s the Oslo royal castle, as observed from a random angle, altitude and latitude, provided with continuously updated geodata. Pan, zoom, rotate… You have to try.

Fliff-flaff-fluff. That is the (extremely rapid) sound of me opening what ever digital device at hand, kung fu-style, on responding to foreigners asking directions.

I’ve treated myself to a not-so-guided Oslo tour already, planning on another virtual and aerial “stroll” tonight, unless I pass out after entertaining daughter and accompanying neighbour kid.

Endless possibilities.

2 comments »

Morten Jacobsen says:

Read more about the service in their english blog entry: http://labs.finn.no/blog/sesam-3d-map-3d-revolution-people

# 7 November 2008 at 8:51 am

Jarle Petterson (author) says:

Hello, Morten,

Well, I’m still somewhat taken aback by the whole thing. To think that top-shelf technology intended for military purposes has been made available to the public at an early stage! I commend you all for letting us in on it.

Also, I can see how the solution may come in handy commercially, for Finn.no’s real estate classifieds, not least.

If nothing better comes along some time soon (which is hard to believe), you’ve found yourselves an internationally ground-breaking thingamajig here.

To my surprise — and great pleasure — I noticed last night that the Oslo map goes beyond the city limits. Suddenly I remembered that plane circling our neighbourhood earlier on. I even recognised the tablecloth covering one of our garden tables.

I’m impressed — and eagerly awaiting further expansion of your portfolio.

# 7 November 2008 at 9:45 am

For when I’m lost for – my own – words:

Müsik

I've compiled a selection of real good oldies for the raisin brigade. I'm afraid it's a very crude selection, though, off the top of my head, as it were, as I test the Finetune player. Most of it, with a few exceptions, a representation of my taste in music for the last 35 years – and beyond. 70's & 80's stuff, mostly (formative years and all that), which is not to say that I no longer like it. I must admit, however, that, in hindsight, a few of them embarrass me a little today, but hey, I'm an honest guy. At least, and for what it's worth, I was never counted among the Eagles, Dr. Hook, Smokie and Bonnie Tyler crowd. Please feel free to let it run while you surf other sites in a separate tab or window (or pop out the player, as suggested below):

Random video picks

Oh, I can play that game, too:

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