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