Blog 6

Both mapping and three-dimensional models work as virtual interfaces that help us navigate the world. Both have particular uses and also raise questions about what the intended use for each should be. When specifically looking at historical documents, rather any historical context. We want the accuracy to be untainted and realistic. I spoke about this in my last essay. I found the Musee d' Orsay to be ineffective as a historical archive because it lacked good quality. Experts basically say we should take the imaging with a grain of salt, because it's not realistic. That goes for both 3d virtual models and mapping. Therefore, should we even be using programming that alters the perception of the actual experience? When looking at the technical differences between them, there's two big distinctions. Mapping is when you take a 3d image and show it as a 2d image, this creates distortion. With 3d virtual spaces, they use a combination of radar and magnetic imaging to create the shapes of the space. From there an artist will colorize and tend to the accuracy of the 3d model. Mapping is more used to give us directions to literally navigate the space we occupy and where we travel to in real time. Whereas 3d virtual tours serve to bring us back in time or possibly in the future. There have been historical events mapped and put into virtual tours. These 3d models serve as information visualizations for complex lengthy data that might be hard to understand from a distant analysis. With all this in mind both methods of preservation and information visualization help the overall accessibility of the world. Even as an educational tool showing people the cultural context in various wars, situations, and conflicts. Professionals question whether these methods will bring people closer to cultural understanding. Or will it create cultural sites to just flourish as tourism sites?  Personally, these methods are highly effective but should be used sparingly. Most cultural sites and experiences are best done in person. People should be in the setting and immersed in the culture they are experiencing. However, I think 3D software can be a really effective learning tool. People can use it to better understand history and use it to present rhetoric in a quantifiable pattern.