The smartphone project where most of us reference librarians were given asmartphone for a three year contract was initiated by our former Technology Librarian Karen Keiller. She has written about the project in the Information Technology Section Newsletter, IFLA, July 2010. IFLA ITS Newsletter
I have been wanting to document the art work at the University of Manitoba for years. The Iphone gave me a very accessible way to do this. Here I am photographing one of the 17 art works in my collection. The project began to grow to include GPS, a blog and QR codes, in addition to augmented reality.
In addition to photographing the art work, I assigned GPS location codes using the mobile app GPS Motion X. To the right you can see the co-ordinates.
All images were uploaded from the Iphone onto Flickr into a collection entitled University of Manitoba Public Art.
Here is an example of one of the Flickr records which includes information about the artist, media, date. The sculpture’s location has been pin pointed on a map in the upper right hand corner.
The GPS co-ordinates were then loaded into Google Earth where I created an API for each art work. You can see the artists numbered in the upper left corner.
If you right click with the mouse you can edit the “properties” of the API or placemarker, in this case Tascona. Here in html one can add links to the image in Flickr, web sites and the library discovery layer Summon.
The Google Earth KMZ file was then converted to a web page.
I can click on the #4 API Harrison and up pops an image of the art work pulled from my Flickr site. I have also included a stable link to “Summon,” our library catalogue’s discovery layer.
A search in “Summon” for library materials on Robert Harrison.
Click on the “UM Public Art Blog” to find out more information about the artist.
I created a web page for each art work in a Wordpress blog entitled Public Art at the University of Manitoba. http://valmesta.wordpress.com/ In paragraph 2, I have included a link to the google Earth map previously discussed, as well as a printable pdf version.
Above you see a web page for Ron Gabe, part of General Idea, a famous group of Canadian artists who worked from the 60s-80s. Notice the links to more web sites such as the national gallery of Canada and A.A. Bronson. A web page was created for each art work because a unique URL was required to generate a subsequent QR code.
More information on General Idea at the National Gallery of Canada’s Cybermuse site.
In preparation for making QR codes, I wanted to work with a shorter URL. I took the art work’s Wordpress URL and shortened it using TinyURL.
Here is a much shorter URL to work with!
Using the QR code generator GOQR.ME at http://goqr.me I created a downloadable QR code.
Here are two QR code readers that can be found at the app store. I prefer QuickMark.
Try reading this QR code with your phone!
Did you get to this page? Here is the Wordpress web page for the Eli Bornstein sculpture.
How to mount the QR codes………
I printed QR codes on Avery labels and then stuck them onto glass blocks with another transparent label on top.
I did not intrude on the art work, so I eventually put the glass block on a table behind. One problem is that students keep bringing the glass block back to me in the library.
Wikitude is an app which allows one to show geo-tagged items in augmented reality.
One can make their OWN Wikitude World in Wikitude.me by uploading a Google Earth map, its url and other files.
Images for both an Icon and a Logo in png format must be uploaded. The Google Earth map must first be converted from a KML to a KMZ file and then uploaded.
I can now go into my Wikitude app and see my world “Public Art at the U of M” load along with other “worlds” such as Flickr and YouTube. Notice my world is given a distance from my physical location and if I check off “My World” I will bring up subsequent maps and routes to the public art work.
Wikitude is now reloading with “my world’s ” POIs (points of interest).
I am now showing you a “List” option and the “Camera” option. One can hold up the Iphone and walk towards the superimposed “Harrison” logo until one gets to the sculpture.
In the map option, all the POIs are loaded and can be clicked on for further information. The arrow to the right reveals even more options.
Click on the “Route” button to generate a pathway to the sculpture.
Foursquare is an app. You can sign in through Facebook, Twitter, and find a “place” where you can add information. Under University of Manitoba, Robson Hall I added information.
Go and see the Tony Tascona paintings in Robson Hall!
The Public art collection can be found on the Libraries’ Homepage under “Digital Collections.”
….and under “Featured Collections.”
I am now consulting with the Winnipeg Arts Council to create a QR code project and Wikitude World for their Public Art Program.