If you ever wondered what your street looked like 100 years ago, then you are definitely going to want to check out the WhatWasThere app. WhatWasThere is a project that seeks to create a crowd-sourced scrapbook of America's cities.
WhatWasThere was created by Michigan-based Enlightenment Ventures. The app lets you upload photos taken any time in the past along with a brief description. The app also lets you view your city on Google maps with markers placed on locations that have photos uploaded to them. Traveling to those locations lets you view a live image of the location mixed with the old photo.
The app is a great way to discover more about the community you live in. The WhatWasThere app is available now for free in the iTunes app store.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Crowdsourced Historical Preservation
- Opportunity for companies to create platforms for crowdsourcing historical data to ensure that important details are not lost.
- Augmented Reality Travel
- Augmented reality integration can add historical value to travel-focused apps and sites to make a more immersive experience.
- Community-driven Tourism
- Companies can appeal to users and promote local tourism by creating tools that promote local history and culture.
Where This Applies
- Tourism
- Travel companies can use technology like What Was There to create interactive tours with an emphasis on a city's history.
- Technology
- Software developers can create similar tools and apps with visual recognition, cataloging, and AR technology.
- Historical Preservation
- Reverse-archeology and historical preservation groups can benefit from What Was There and similar projects, preserving more urban photos for posterity.
