Google Maps and Robben Island Museum (RIM) has announced a Street View Imagery of the popular Robben Island prisons. Google and Robben Island Museum announced the virtual tour today, five days to South Africa’s Freedom Day. Audio-visuals of the tour is hosted on Google Cultural Institute.
Robben Island housed the first president of post-apartheid South Africa, Nelson Mandela and other anti – apartheid campaigners including the country’s current president, Jacob Zuma.
Luke McKend, Country Director for Google South Africa, says that this project vividly demonstrates the internet’s power to democratise the world and bring history to life.
“We’re launching this project five days ahead of Freedom Day in South Africa. Robben Island is a symbol of South Africa’s fight for freedom. We’re excited about helping people to learn more about this heritage and to explore the island from any device, anywhere in the world.”
According to a release obtained by TechCabal, Google Maps has also created teaching notes on Robben Island for educators who will be using this interactive tour as an educational tool.
The Robben Island interactive tour can be accessed on mobile devices, from desktops and Google’s Cultural Institute, where Robben Island Museum will host five exhibits depicting the history for the Island. All the tours on the immersive street view, according to Google, will be guided by former prisoners on Robben Island.
The Nelson Mandela Centre for Memory will also update its Cultural Institute exhibits with new layouts and add Street View panoramas of Robben Island.
Photo Credit: George Fox Evangelical Seminary via Compfight cc
