Maps & Virtual Spaces

I found Drucker's statement in the initial pages of the Mapping and GIS chapter to be interesting when applied to the "Mapping Color" project at Harvard University. Drucker states, "Mapping tools are an integral part of political and social work [...] All of these have a human dimension, of course, but they tend to be far from the study of cultural artifacts and events that are central to humanities" (Drucker 130). This seems to be a definition in stark contrast to the Harvard "Mapping Project" because its purpose is to investigate the use of color in works of art throughout the last 2,000 years using a mapping data base. The map may not be the only way to search the art database within this website, but its presence alone seems to disagree with Drucker's comments about mappings lack of a human dimension. Other then that I found the Mapping and GIS chapter to be insightful, especially when talking about the visual format types. Especially the connections to pixel based graphics vs. vector based graphic pro's and cons. I have dabbled in graphic design, so I had some experience with these theories, but it was interesting to see them brought to a chapter about virtual mapping. Pixel based files being better for displaying color makes sense. Vectors, at least to my knowledge, are virtual shapes that don't loose pixel density when expanded or shrunk, which makes sense as to why it more accurate for modeling. 

As discussed in my DH project analysis, virtual tours are essential for enhancing accessibility and engagement in various fields. I believe that virtual tourism present an innovative way to explore and experience cultural sites and historical landmarks without the physical constraints of travel. I did my project on the Louvre 3D virtual tours, which showcases the museum in a way that traditional photos can't, making them an accurate representation of a space that you can travel too in the comfort of your own home. Virtual tours also speak to accessibility, as anyone with a stable WiFi connection can travel to these spaces. Take the Google Arts and Culture project. It may not be a 3D virtual tour, where you are walking the halls of a museums, but it still offers an immersive experience with its high-res digitization of various works of art from museums all over the world.