Viewfinder began in 2006 as a USC research project to seek ways of democratizing 3D Earth representations, by combining the visceral sensation of flying around 3D Earth models with the folksonomic free-for-all of photo sharing sites like Flickr.

In 2007, Viewfinder received a Google Research Award.

In 2008, our results were featured in BoingBoing and the New York Times: “This is an attempt to viscerally and emotionally plant your picture in a virtual world." “We’re rabble-rousing. This is as much an artist’s intervention as a technological invention.”

In 2012, two patents were granted.


For the whole story, credits, and a demo video,
please visit the USC Viewfinder Website.

Demo Video (5:00)

Google Tech Talk (April 14, 2008)