The starting point of this paper is the idea that a comprehensive understanding of the earth and its systems calls for consideration of bygone views of the world. Creating facsimiles of antique globes in the form of digital globes provides a new opportunity to make such bygone world views accessible to a wide scientific audience. However, up to now, little practical experience in applying digital technology on globes has been made. Considering these attempts by thorough synopsis, this article deduces a comprehensive approach on virtual representations of antique globes that can be described by the superordinate concept of virtual representation. This concept comprises facilities of data acquisition of the original globe, ways of visualising the digitised globe and its final cartographic preparation. Applications that arise from this procedure are exemplified through both virtual hyperglobes and tactile hyperglobes. New findings on a 16th century earth globe are encouraging results of the presented virtual representation approach, which may offer a sustainable visualisation platform of interdisciplinary research.
This virtual representation is part of the new multimedia section of the Museum and is accessible to a wide audience via a dedicated touchscreen REF .
Virtual representations of antique globes – new ways of touching the untouchable
International Journal of Digital Earth
Computer Science