Steampunk Globe Hooked Up to Google Earth

[Tom Goldman]

Steampunk Globe Hooked Up to Google Earth

The easiest way to get to your destination in an airship is this steampunk globe hooked up to a tablet PC running Google Earth.

Steampunk inventor John Knight is developing the perfect way to travel the globe like it was 1889. The "Electromagnetic Geospacial Globe and Remote View with Obligatory Goggles" is a set of steampunk objects that allow users to control Google Earth through the rotation of a globe.

Knight steampunked a globe, a tablet PC, and a set of goggles for this project. The brass globe is hooked up to the tablet PC and controls Google Earth through RFID tags. Move the globe's rotating glass lens over a specific tag, say for "North America," and it'll rotate Google Earth to the same position. The obligatory goggles unfortunately don't do anything yet, but Knight is working on it.

This would be a neat invention if it wasn't designed in a steampunk style, so the fact that it is makes it downright amazing. Steampunk objects are great, but functioning steampunk objects are much cooler, especially when they can drive an airship. Closeup images are available on Knight's flickr [http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmknight/sets/72157622598555795/].

Via: Engadget [http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/07/electromagnetic_geospacial_globe.html]

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[CitySquirrel]

Via airship you can at least go in a straight line.

 

[Blue Musician]

Awesome, all we need right now is a country that is completely steampunk.

I mean that, this is just awesome.

 

[SuccessAndBiscuts]

If I had the time/inclination/money Everything I own would be steampunk styled.

My life goal is to one day live in a home full of steampunk gizmos like this, it shall be awesome.

 

[Alar]

If I had the time/inclination/money Everything I own would be steampunk styled.

My life goal is to one day live in a home full of steampunk gizmos like this, it shall be awesome.

Yes, yes, yes. But would living in a steampunk home make you lose your grip on reality... or give you a new and far more interesting reality?

 

[SuccessAndBiscuts]

If I had the time/inclination/money Everything I own would be steampunk styled.

My life goal is to one day live in a home full of steampunk gizmos like this, it shall be awesome.

Yes, yes, yes. But would living in a steampunk home make you lose your grip on reality... or give you a new and far more interesting reality?

I doubt it would affect my grip on reality, partially because its already questionable at best but mostly because the rest of the world would still be (relatively) normal.

 

[hannardynamite]

I've never really been in the steampunk style, but since watching Warehouse 13 (which I've interpreted as being on the edge of the steampunk style), I can't get enough of things like this. Just too awesome. I really want.

 

[MasterKirov]

Awesome, all we need right now is a country that is completely steampunk.

Then come visit lovely, snowy Khador! Russian Steampowered robots! Meet the Butcher of Khardov and Karchev the Terrible! Join the Winter Guard! Did we mention the snow?

In Khador, fun has you!

 

[aldowyn]

This looks and actually is seriously awesome. Now imagine Google coming up with one that does ANY location!

 

[Blue Musician]

Awesome, all we need right now is a country that is completely steampunk.

Then come visit lovely, snowy Khador! Russian Steampowered robots! Meet the Butcher of Khardov and Karchev the Terrible! Join the Winter Guard! Did we mention the snow?

In Khador, fun has you!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I'll take the first ticket to Khador tomorrow morning!

Now seriously, I would really like a REAL steampunk country.

 

[MasterKirov]

Awesome, all we need right now is a country that is completely steampunk.

Then come visit lovely, snowy Khador! Russian Steampowered robots! Meet the Butcher of Khardov and Karchev the Terrible! Join the Winter Guard! Did we mention the snow?

In Khador, fun has you!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I'll take the first ticket to Khador tomorrow morning!

Now seriously, I would really like a REAL steampunk country.

For that my friend, we will have to wait -_-

But it would have me packing my tickets and talking citizenship immediately ^_^

 

[WilliamRLBaker]

awesome...

 

[JordanMillward_1]

ok, i'm sorry, but what is this supposed to do? i mean like, whats the point of it?

What do you mean? Why does it have to have a point? It's functional art, art doesn't have a point, other than being ascetically pleasing.

It's actual point, though, is being able to move a real-life globe and have a tablet running Google Earth move to the same location. Whilst looking like a cool 1889 steampunk invention. Which is awesome.

But seriously, why would it have to have a point? That just baffles me...

 

[Vierran]

I love steampunk, it is usually so creative.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

RFID aka the mark of the beast and Chip implantation on humans !

actually they're being used in US Visas & passports...

 

[Sebenko]

But seriously, why would it have to have a point? That just baffles me...

It has a point: being god damn awesome.

I would have one in my house.

Then again, I would have a slightly steampunk house, given the chance.

 

[Ohlookit'sMatty]

This is when the phrase 'people who have to much time on there hands' is a good thing // Can't wait to see what becomes of this // Keep us posted Escapist

-M