Time Trek
Time Trek Portal Static Map
Time Trek Portal Google Earth
Time Trek
User Guide
Time Trek
Content Changes
How To Contribute
to Time Trek
Update June 12, 2010: Release 2.1
This is a significant release for several reasons. First, the database behind Time Trek has been completely restructured. The new database allows much more flexibility in relating one category of information to another. In other words, events can now more easily be related to features, stations, images and a host of other information types such as videos, audio recordings, documents, and websites. For example, if a user selects the 1955-58 Commonwealth Transantarctic Expedition event, links are readily available from that event to images of the event, and a philatelic cover signed by members of that expedition.
The user interface to Time Trek has been improved to make better use of the new data flexibility. Now, when the user clicks on an event, station, or feature, the resulting popup window will have a row of tabs at the top labeled “Events”, “Stations”, “Features”, “Images” and “Links”. The tab for whatever category was clicked by the user will be selected by default. The other tabs may then be clicked to reveal any information related to the item originally selected. Tabs are a common and intuitive way of navigating through information on a website so it is hoped that users will be immediately comfortable with this interface. A more detailed discussion with examples will appear in a soon-to-be-released update of the Time Trek User Guide.
Next, the Firefox browser bug that prevented Firefox users from properly using Time Trek has been fixed. Time Trek will now have full functionality for those users.
Finally, 100 new events have been added to Time Trek. The paucity of events in the timeline has been a deficiency from the beginning, so this is a big step forward in bringing Time Trek closer to the resource that it was meant to be. These new events were excerpted with permission from Dr. Robert K. Headland’s classic historical reference, ‘A Chronology of Antarctic Exploration’, Second Edition (2009). More will be added in the coming months.
Take Version 2.1 for a test drive and, as always, let is us know what you like and don’t like by emailing the webmaster at webmaster@antarctican.org.
What is Time Trek?
"Each man's memory is his private literature" - Aldous Huxley
Time Trek is a unique web-based interactive application that is developed and supported by The Antarctican Society for the benefit and pleasure of all Antarcticans. It combines a timeline and three-dimensional mapping with information about historical events, stations (bases), geographic features and digital images. "Events" are broadly defined in Time Trek to mean anything that can be associated with a time and place.
The purpose of Time Trek is to preserve and present Antarctic history in the context of both time (the timeline) and place (the mapping). The user is given the tools to navigate forward and backward through time to explore what happened, where it happened, who was involved and how it looked and felt. This includes not only well-known major events in Antarctican history, such as the race to the Pole between Amundsen and Scott, but also the recollections and documentation of "ordinary" Antarcticans who have participated in the rich adventure of science and exploration on the Last Continent. In Time Trek you will find stories, papers, letters, photos, audio, video and other momentoes contributed by and about people both famous and not-so-famous. It is a place to share with the world the experiences and historical accounts that have inspired an emotional connection to this vast, wonderful place in so many of us.
Many of the event descriptions in Time Trek are reproduced with the permission of the author from 'A Chronology of Antarctic Exploration' by Robert K. Headland, published by Bernard Quartich, Ltd., 2009 (2nd Edition). The Antarctican Society expresses its appreciation to Dr. Headland for his generosity in allowing us to quote from what is widely recognized as the definitive comprehensive work on the history of Antarctic exploration.
The other data in Time Trek are meant to enhance and give context to the events information. "Stations" documents the continuously-occupied outposts of human habitation on the continent, dating from the earliest such bases. Each station has descriptive information derived from various sources. "Features" contains the complete Antarctic Geographic Names Data Base maintained by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). "Images" include personal photographs contributed by Antarcticans as well as aerial and terrestrial photos obtained with permission from various sources.
Two versions of Time Trek are available. The Static Map version combines the timeline with a fixed image map of the continent. The image is a beautiful mosaic derived from NASA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data and processed by the U.S. Geological Survey. "Static Map" is a precise description; users cannot pan, zoom or otherwise change the map on the computer screen. All of the data on events, stations, features and images are accessible through the Static Map version, but only one item at a time from any of these categories can be linked to the map. The geographic location of the item selected will be marked by a small red cross superimposed on the image map.
The Google Earth version is dynamic. The console that controls the interaction and the data behind it are exactly the same as the Static Map version. However, the mapping function is fulfilled by incorporating Google Earth. Time Trek takes full advantage of both the power of Google Earth and the incredible storehouse of aerial imagery that it provides. All of the pan, zoom, interrogate and fly-through tools of Google Earth are available to Time Trek users. It literally opens a whole new mapping dimension - the third dimension! As Google adds new imagery and improves the tools, these enhancements will be automatically available to Time Trek users.
Features data in Time Trek is directly from the SCAR Composite Gazetteer supported by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre. It is updated at least quarterly.
What You Need to Run Time Trek
NOTE: This version of Time Trek should work with all major browsers (Microsoft IE, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari). Please report any problems encountered while using any of these browsers to the webmaster at webmaster@antarctican.org.
Static Map Version
This version purposely has minimal requirements to run it. It is designed to allow access to all of the rich data of Time Trek with only an average computer plus the ubiquitous Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash Player plug-ins. The plug-ins can be downloaded and installed by simply clicking on the links for these plug-ins under the Google Earth requirements listed below. An internet connection that is faster than dial-up is also required.
Google Earth Version
Google recommends the following computer configurations to run Google Earth:
PC Systems;
- Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
- Pentium 4 2.4GHz+ or AMD 2400xp+
- 512M RAM
- 2 GB of free disk space
- Network speed: 768 Kbits/sec or better (DSL/Cable)
- 3D-capable video card with 32 MB of VRAM or greater
- 1280x1024, "32-bit True Color" screen
MacIntosh Systems:
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5.2
- CPU: G4 1.2Ghz
- System Memory (RAM): 512MB
- Hard Disk: 2GB free space
- Network Speed: 768 Kbits/sec or higher
- Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM
- Screen: 1280x1024, "Millions of Colors"
"Recommends" really means "minimum" for a satisfactory experience. This application definitely requires a high-speed internet connection (cable, DSL etc.).
Downloads Needed for Time Trek
In addition, the following plug-ins are required to be downloaded and installed on your computer (click on the links below to download and install).
If a message pops up saying "save or run?" click on "run."
This is the only module you need to run the Google Earth viewport in Time Trek. Installing is simple: just click on the link above ("Google Earth API Plugin") and it will be taken care of automatically. If you don't have the plugin already installed, the Google Earth website page will sense this and do it without any action on your part! You will know that it is done when you see the standard Google Earth "blue marble" globe appear in the small insert window on the web page. That's it! Actually, any time you visit any web page that needs the plugin to run properly, it will be automatically downloaded and installed for you.
This is a plug-in that is already installed on more than 98% of the computers in the world. It allows documents formatted in Adobe PDF to be opened on your computer. If it is already installed on your computer, a warning message will appear on your screen when you click this link. You can cancel at this point or go ahead and replace it if the one you have installed is an older version.
This plug-in allows certain video and animated graphics to run on your computer. It is also commonly installed on personal computers. If it is already installed on yours, you will see the same type of warning mentioned above for Adobe Reader, and you can respond in a similar way.
Time Trek is programmed by Amos Alubala.