San Francisco, being the darling cultural gem in gem in geeked out Silicon Valley, is one of the cities that Google has photographed so extensively as to offer a view of houses right at their front doors. Not all of the city has been shot so far, but I assume that will come shortly. Basically, one is able to view a Google map and, in some locations, shift the perspective to the street. Not only can I see where the house that I'm visiting is located, I can get a look at the outside of the place before I even take the time to go there.
Useful? Only sort of. But a good reminder that we must, from now on, be aware of the fact that vision is becoming total; its scale is widening, becoming more precise and having more depth of field -- which itself basically gives way to another moment of vision, as in Google Maps Street View. In the web 2.0 program, you can actually see people on the street who happened to be there the moment Google took the picture. They exist like some strange ghost-like presence, perpetually tagged into the landscape for the world to see. You can make out their faces, see their boredom, their hurrying steps, or a personal smile to themselves as they walk to work.
Diving in to see people heading to work, going about their day.
The map:
View Larger Map
The street:
Upclose, forever bonded to this simulacral space:
2 comments:
sketch. will they photograph you guys on your street corner, trying to make a shelter out of the daily's coupons section? good luck with your search.
PS- your donations are going to the xbox/halo-africa fund. also, your third-world handbag is the neatest thing since trendy recyclable shopping bags. i use it constantly. thanks bud.
i can't wait until surveillance technology becomes so perfect as to nullify itself.
or just until i can espy on you from here.
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