An historic launch for We Are What We Do and Google

We Are What We Do, the social movement that launched the Anya Hindmarch ‘I’m Not A Plastic Bag’, is back with its latest creation: a collaboration with Google called Historypin. Historypin is a digital time machine that provides a new way for the world to see and share history.

The site allows users to share images from their personal photo albums, as well as the stories behind them. To date, pictures have been provided from various national archives, as well as diverse contributors including Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, the Royal Albert Hall and Arsenal FC.

Developed in partnership with Google, the site finds a unique use for Google Maps and Street View, meaning pictures can be dated as well as geo-tagged and then ‘pinned’ into place on top of modern Street View photography.

The result is a fascinating snapshot of the changing face of local streets and well known landmarks and provides a new perspective on historic moments. The site has ambitions to become the world’s largest user-generated archive of historic images and stories, providing easy access to digitised history stretching from the invention of the camera to yesterday.

Nick Stanhope, Managing Director of We Are What We Do commented:  “Historypin aims to be the world’s largest communal archive of historical images and stories. “The unique way users can upload, review, comment on and share images via Historypin creates a fascinating window into the past.”

Historypin has been developed by We Are What We Do as part of their campaign to get people from different generations to share more and come together more often. The site aims to start millions of new conversations between old and young, motivating older people to share their history and younger people to share their digital skills.

Kate Hammond, Marketing Manager at Google, commented: “This remarkable project helps to bring together the generations to share past experiences and exchange internet skills in a brand new way.

“With this highly original use of the Street View technology we hope that communities up and down the country will be brought a new perspective on local streets, landmarks and historic moments, in a way that benefits both old and young.”

Launched in 2004, We Are What We Do creates ideas, products and tools that make it easy for people to make a difference to big social and environmental issues. Together with Anya Hindmarch and Sainsbury’s We Are What We Do launched the I’m NOT a Plastic Bag shopper in 2007, which flew off the shelves in record time. Historypin is their biggest and most exciting innovation to date, which will launch around the world over the next year.

To find out more visit www.wearewhatwedo.org and www.historypin.com

For more information, quotes or high res images please contact:

Rebekkah Abraham
rebekkah.abraham@wearewhatwedo.org
71 St John Street
London
EC1M 4NJ
020 7148 7670