Spanish 112: Introduction to Spanish Language and the Spanish-Speaking World II

Using Google Maps and Thinglink, we can create dynamic and interactive 360 tours. These tours can be shared to websites or even saved to electronic portfolios. You can add text, media, and other types of content into the VR tour in order to tell your readers a story.

Free Thinglink (Free Teacher) Accounts

In order to share materials and make them visible, make sure to create your free account as a “free teacher” account. Click on the link below to see instructions for creating your account.

For any questions, feel free to contact Sara Dale (dale1@stolaf.edu) to set up a meeting.

Google Maps + Thinglink VR Guide
Create a Thinglink Free Teacher Account

What can I do with Thinglink?

In this VR Tour of the DiSCO – we are able to link content directly to locations in the space. As viewers walk around the rooms, they can see annotated notes and hotspots of information. In the images, you can embed:

  • Videos, audio, and other recorded media
  • Images – it may be recommended to embed images over directly uploading the file.
  • Google Slideshows
  • Text

This VR Tour is accessible on the DiSCO website.

Need to access Street View 360?

Street View 360 will also be made available in the DiSCO! If the application is not on the computer, ask one of the workers at the DiSCO Information Desk to help with the install! It can be added to either the Mac or Windows computers.

CSN Examples (St. Olaf Work)

Castillo San Felipe del Morro – San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Olaf DiSCO VR Tour

Project Resources: Tips & Tricks

Street View Download 360

This is a free, open-source tool that allows anyone to export a photo from the Google Maps streetview. The photo can be downloaded directly to a local computer in a format that is ready to upload to Thinglink for annotation.

The tool is a very quick download that is compatible with Windows or Mac (not compatible with mobile). If you do not have access to computer, contact the DiSCO and we can install the tool on one of the DiSCO computers for use.

Street View Download Tool

VR Tours: Google Maps + Thinglink

Virtual Reality (VR) tours can be created using photos downloaded from Google Maps and uploaded to Thinglink. Videos, audio, images, and other content can be annotated into the VR images to guide reader attention to specific locations.

Google Maps
Thinglink VR

Storing your Content

Since Thinglink does not allow for multiple collaborators – it is recommended to record all information on a Google Doc (or separate document) before annotating the information on the image. Note on the Google Doc what type of annotations or content that you would like to add to the photos. This is important for a couple reasons:

  • If annotations or information is accidentally deleted on the VR photos, this can’t be recovered.
  • Multiple people can contribute to the information that will be added to the VR tour!

 

Photo Naming Schemes

In order to make the upload process easier – at the beginning of the photo title, indicate which order it should be in by adding a number at the beginning. (1St Olaf Northfield, 2St Olaf Northfield, etc.)

  • This will also make it easier to track annotation information! Organization annotations by photos names on a Google Sheet or Doc.

What to look at your project virtually?

If you download and log into the mobile Thinglink VR app, there is a setting for virtual goggles. Using Google Cardboard goggles, you can view your VR tour through a phone. For anyone interested in trying this out, contact the DiSCO.

Google Earth VR

The DiSCO also has access to Google Earth in virtual reality. Explore and walk the streets of most locations (any that are available on Google Maps street view), or hover over the city for an aerial view!

If you would like to check out Google Earth VR, reach out to the DiSCO to access the VR Lab.