There can be no doubt that this is the golden age of photography. I'm not referring to the quality of photos being taken, but to the quantity - the gazillion photos that people click every day, on their point-and-shoots, SLRs, mobile phones etc.
But there was a big problem: of what value are all these photos? Flickr and Google Images are seeing a rapid proliferation of uploaded photos every day but how does one separate the gems from the rubbish? How does the cream rise up to the top? Who makes sense of all these images and integrates them into something meaningful.
Along comes Microsoft's Blaise Aguera y Arcas and a great creation called Photosynth. I won't do much explaining here because Arcas does a fabulous job of it himself.
And so we actually have a software that not only aggregates similar photographs (those taken at the same event or venue) but also integrates it into a meaningful whole (that's way, way more useful that the parts).
Just as you have hyperlinks in text documents, Arcas explains how one can cross-link pictures and create this panoramic experience. And not only do you get to see your pictures of the event, but a collage - putting together various views from diverse lenses.
It's a classic case of the gems coming together neatly with the rubbish - producing something that's highly viewable.
Read Farhad Manjoo's piece in Slate for more.
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