Retro Yakking

As many a web surfer will be well aware by now, Google Maps is a powerful tool allowing almost anyone with an Internet connection to explore the world for free from the comfort of their own armchair.

It’s no wonder, then, that it has become not only a benchmark for mere web atlases, but a phenomenon of epic proportions riding on the back of the Internet juggernaught that is Google.com.

ASCII Google Maps

There’s an unwritten rule that you know you’ve made it if you’re immortalised in ASCII format. Well, Google Maps did that long ago in the form of asciimaps.com. So long ago, in fact, that this fully ASCII-tised version of the world’s most famous web atlas is no more, having closed down some time in the last year or so.

It’s something of a loss, as even though it proved quite difficult to follow, Markus Gebhard’s novel creation was an intriguing little time-waster well worth a look.

Globalmove

Rebel group jodi have been confusing and compelling the masses in equal measure with their convention-breaking web art creations since the early 90s. Their 2008 piece Globalmove makes effective use of the Google Maps API to fashion a series of aesthetically-pleasing patterns using location icons and other map ephemera.

It’s strangely hypnotic and geekily satisfying stuff by which, like those early screensavers, it’s easy to be transfixed - you could sit and watch for ages as the patterns endlessly cycle.

Not even the Moon is safe…

Google Maps photofit van

Something a little bit different - an image created entirely from reflections in shop windows found on Google Street View. This photofit depicts the Google Street View van on its travels through the city of San Francisco, and is the work of Joe McKay, also the creator of a number of other Google Maps-based animations and artworks.

Still interested?

Check out these previous posts:

• Five funny and interestingly named Google Maps locations
• Five more funny and unfortunately-named Google Maps locations
• Five silly and rudely named Google Maps locations (NSFW)
• Google announce Latest in stalker technology - Latitude
• Lost City Atlantis found to be a hoax planted by Google

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