Pixxcell, an ambitious visual platform which allows users to explore images from across the globe – and curate their own – is set for an eagerly-anticipated re-launch this month.
The Tremough-based digital start-up, which has been identified as ‘game-changing’ by the Plymouth University GAIN20 network, will initiate a soft launch within the next few weeks.
During this first stage the site will be put through its paces by a specially invited group of photographers, experts from the travel industry, students from Tremough campus, technology bloggers and educational users; this will be followed by a general roll-out later in the autumn.
The website is essentially a world map which allows users to view and tell beautifully presented visual stories (look out for the hashtag #wearethestorytellers on social media) which journey through space and time; these stories can now be embedded into other websites and shared on social media.
Users can import their own images, including from Facebook, Instagram and Flickr, and also have access to the world’s largest digital archive (Getty Images). As storytellers from all over the globe add more stories, the individual images will be compiled into a central world archive; “a visual visitor’s book for planet earth.”
The platform has undergone significant improvements since an earlier phase was trialled last year; the background technology has completely changed, making the site faster and upgrading functionality.
Pixxcell CEO Melissa Mercer commented:
“We can’t wait to unleash this bigger and better version, and watch people explore the huge potential of the site for telling their unique visual stories.”
She added:
“We’ve been working with content curators and experienced travel experts – including writers and photographers – who have put together stories to help demonstrate how the technology works.”
The ability for users to embed their unique stories into their own websites is particularly significant; this feature has been designed to appeal to travel writers, photographers, historians, international brands and museums with collections from around the world, offering a new way of cataloguing and showcasing images, artefacts and artwork.
Sarah Lloyd-Durrant, Digital Access Officer at The Royal Institution of Cornwall, is looking forward to the launch, saying:
For updates follow @Pixxcell on Twitter or /PixxcellWorldwide on Facebook.
Alternatively, sign-up to the mailing list for priority news at www.pixxcell.com.
The previous website has now been taken offline in preparation for the upcoming re-launch.