Google Art Project "Virtual World Tour"

Google has created a virtual world tour of some of the most famous art museums on the planet.  The interactive design is much like that of Google Earth; if you have yet to try Google Earth get on it. I'm currently using Google Earth to watch you as you read this fantastic blog.  Anyway, cyber visitors are allowed to 'enter' numerous museums by the way of cyberspace.  Use your 'mouse' to direct the tour as you walk in and out of various art galleries within the art museum of your choice. Get up close to each painting with a touch of a button. Go even further and click on the art work for a private screening.  How many people actually visiting a museum have this opportunity?  Oh, and one more important fact, its free! Check out the videos below for a 'lite' tour and introduction from Google.
 

Google Art Project

    As a visitor, I did not find the tour all that exhilarating.  Yes, I enjoy art, but I found myself waiting for the echoes, smells and overall ambiance that is experienced as one walks through the different galleries of a tangible museum. Nothing to touch or possibly break. No marble floors to tap your feet on or large wooden railings to make your hands look small as you ascend to another level.
    Where were all of the other visitors, aka pseudo-intellectuals? This is a rhetorical question. I know the other cyber nerds were sitting at home viewing the gallery alone...like me.   Simply, its fun to watch people take on art and decipher it in their own minds. Viewing art goes hand-in-hand with viewing viewers of art.  Its like watching someone uncork a bottle of wine, smell the cork, swirl the wine in the glass and lightly sip to decide its value and the observer knowing full well that the taster has no idea what he is doing.  Yes, the site does offer comment sections on artwork, but it is a basic design and its really low-interactive.
   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as Taste is in the taste-buds of the taster.  Trust me, I have little knowledge of wine and art, but I know when I like one or the other and I definitely like checking both out. No social interaction, no esthetic pleasures, just silent galleries and you.  Maybe its just an experience I need to get used to, but so far I prefer the real deal. Unfortunately, that will cost me a pretty penny considering I live in Hawaii and will need to pay quite a sum of money to fly around the world to make the Google Art project a physical reality.
    As a lover of art, but a lover in need of an education, I was pleased that links were available for each art piece, which transported the viewer to a 'study' room. This 'room' offers readings, videos and podcasts in addition to the art work.  Well, as many museum visitors do, rather don't do, Google should definitely continue to offer podcasts that discuss each piece of art work; reading is overrated! By making the tour a bit more educational and stimulating, Google is inviting more people to attend and appreciate the tour.
    Google could definitely add some improvements.  In addition to the eyes, stimulate another sense and keep the visitors engaged... if just for one more viewing.  Why not add some stereotypical classical music? Or music that stems from the same time period? Or how about some really bad 'elevator tunes'; something is better than nothing. Or allow visitors to pick from a variety of music genres. Anything but the dreaded silence. This experience wasn't meant to be  a quick search, find and leave experience.
    An added suggestion regarding social interaction; allow visitors to use 'Second Life' to interact with the Google Art Project and each other.
"Hello, do you come here often?"
"Why, yes, I do."
"I'm Wayne and you are?"
"I'm LaRhonda, but you can call me Frank".
Whatever!  Its more entertaining that staring at your computer screen by yourself.  Hey, maybe "LeRhonda", I mean "Frank, will know something interesting about art or maybe he wont, but the experience just is definitely more memorable either way.  SecondLife, check it out.
     Some go to museums to escape, to disappear into another realm, to imagine life in different times. I, too, have done this. However, the Google Art Project really is a quick distraction to my many other online distractions.  So, when I need to avoid, neglect and escape from work, study, life, romance...life, I'll probably just jump on my iPhone and look at Facebook or throw some 'Angry Birds' at some deficient swine.  Sorry Google...if I force myself to tour the Google Art project I'll bore myself into, you guessed it, a ZOmbie.  More progress needed and until that occurs, more braaaaains, please!
  

http://www.googleartproject.com/