Google Maps Road Trip

These are some highlights from our virtual cross-country road trip. To learn more about it visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_Road_Trip or read below. The quality is so weird cause it was edited from .flv files off ustream.tv. sorry.

Pete and I wanted to take a road trip together this summer, but he lives in Richmond, VA and I live in LA. We tried and tried to make our dreams of the classic American cross-country journey come true, but because of finances, schedule conflicts, and time constraints, we just couldnt make it work. You know how it is. But then we had an idea: What about a virtual road trip that exploits the wonderful technologies of Google Maps and ustream. We could definitely make that happen.

So on August 10th, 2009, at 3pm PST, we left my house in LA and began driving together to Petes place in Richmond. For 9 straight days, we virtual drove across the country by continuously pressing the Google Maps arrow keys eastward, broadcasting the entire experience live on http://www.googlemapsroadtrip.com . This means that folks were able to not only see and hear us as we travel, but also join us in a real-time chat room. Just think of it as an invitation for someone to hop in the backseat and ride along with us for part of the adventure.

Were sung plenty of made-up songs together, made our fair share of stupid noises, got in one memorable argument, visited a few dozen historical sites and old friends, stopped at crummy motels for the night, and saw Graceland on Elviss death date. Just remember: This is real-time, so when we stopped to eat, we actually ate, and when we stopped to sleep, we actually went to bed, and if someone wanted a visit, wed actually drive to their house, pick em up, and tour their hood.

This is everything that wed do on a real road trip, except we didnt have to leave the house, pay for gas, or worry about getting speeding tickets.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Google Maps Road Trip
• marc horowitz
• peter baldes
• road trip
• cross country
• USA
• America
• travel
• virtual
• google maps
• google
• new media art

[TremblingTortoise]

Fantastic. You are damned funny.

Thanks a lot for all of your videos. Keep 'em up.

[mcdonchris]

I wonder what Debbie is doing these days...lol

[WebsiteToSell]

Funny video. It made me laugh :-D

[peanutbuttag3lliee]

This is so frickin' awesome, hahahaha

[uLivful]

hmmm...funny

[Unenthusiasticly]

Yay Parthenon. I live pretty close to that.

[minimartin3]

why dont you guys have more veiws? This is good shit!