There must be hundreds of millions of old photos hidden in the drawers and lofts of Britain’s homes. Without this next project, most of them would probably never see the light of day again. And a precious part of our common heritage would be lost forever. Historypin is the brainchild of some very enthusiastic people at 'We Are What We Do'. Their ethos can be summed up very simply.
Small Actions X Lots of People = Big Change.
As part of a general policy of broadening digital inclusion, the History Pin website provides communities across the country with the ability to scan, resize and upload their old photos. Users can literally ‘pin’ photos and stories to Google Maps and even Google Street View. By superimposing old memories or stories on to present day Google images users are able to take a walk through 1940s Coventry or have a first hand view of King George V’s coronation.
These are just a few of the thousands of images already loaded by Historypin users. The tools that will enable users to do this have been designed and built by Essence. Google were our partners on this. Their technology and App engine allowed us to create something that was both accessible to those without IT skills, yet let them digitize their family history in minutes. Thanks to History Pin, their photos will remain long after the memories have faded.