Website Turns Traffic Cameras into Photobooths on the Street
TrafficCamPhotobooth.com enables New Yorkers to take selfies using over 900 traffic cameras, promoting fun and awareness of the city's surveillance system, with potential expansion to other cities.
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A new website, TrafficCamPhotobooth.com, allows New Yorkers to use the city's traffic camera network to take unique selfies. Created by Brooklyn resident Morry Kolman, the site provides access to over 900 Department of Transportation traffic cameras that stream in near real-time. Users can access the nearest camera by enabling location services on their smartphones or by selecting a camera from an interactive map. To capture a selfie, users pose for three seconds and tap the screen, after which the most recent image from the camera is displayed. Kolman emphasizes the project's fun aspect and its potential to raise awareness about New York City's extensive surveillance system, which includes nearly 71,000 cameras. He advises users to avoid standing in the street and suggests wearing bright clothing or posing in groups for better visibility. The idea originated from an art class assignment focused on photography without traditional shutter mechanisms. Kolman is considering expanding the project to other cities, such as Atlanta and Salt Lake City, and encourages others to build upon his work using GitHub.
- TrafficCamPhotobooth.com allows users to take selfies using NYC traffic cameras.
- The site accesses over 900 cameras from the Department of Transportation.
- Users can capture images by posing for three seconds and tapping the screen.
- The project aims to raise awareness of the city's surveillance system.
- Kolman is exploring expansion to other cities and encourages collaboration on the project.
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