Previously, Peter commented about the coolness of Piclens, the plug-in that allows a user to navigate through photos in three dimensions most specifically in Google Images and Flickr. I personally was hoping for the plug-in to work with some of the agencies I browse for content... it would make my job seem more like Blade Runner, which I always include under suggestions on work surveys...

Other Blade Runner 'flight' experiences:

One that immediately pops to mind is Blaise Aguera and Arcas development for Microsoft, PhotoSynth. The program renders thousands of high-res images into a three dimensional wire-frame that one can maneuver and zoom through. Think of flying around the Eiffel tower, and deciding to focus on a single beam to detect the urban touch of bird poo. That good.



A simple alternative is Airtight Interactive's flash template called the PostcardViewer, which creates a photo gallery on splayed postcards navigable with arrow keys. I once built part of my portfolio using this template, but found it a little dizzying for advertising content. The whizzing aspect is a lovely cheap thrill, and totally worth throwing a family album in there.

Why just view images when you can jump inside of them like a swimming pool?

For those of us that think visually and like to click on pictures (ok, that's most of us btw), PicLens is a pretty amazing app that brings the Web to life as a visual medium. Just download the extension and PicLens turns image and video feeds from top sources into an interactive "wall of media" that animates smoothly across your screen. So smoothly, in fact, that you may actually get motion sickness playing with it (like I did).

Like most interactive things it really has to be experienced to be appreciated. If you have ever felt that image or video search should be more compelling than this one is certainly for you. I recommend everyone on my team try it out. Though if you haven't wanted a more visual, interactive Internet than this plug-in will probably go into the "cool things" bookmark graveyard you never go back to visit. I do believe the new "Shop Amazon" feature is a stretch though.

Speaking as the General Manager of PIXCETERA, this one is a tough act to follow I must admit.