June 26, 2010 by Alexei M
In one of possibly the most absurd technology stories to make the news this year, it has been reported that someone wearing a horse’s head mask has been captured on Google maps. In between news reports of football scores, budget details and the G20 summit details, the BBC has managed to generate over a million hits, because of ‘Horse-Boy’.
Captured on Google’s Street view in Aberdeen, the mystery masked mare is spotted in the Hardgate area of the city, sporting a rather unconvincing rubber mask of a horse. Sightings of the gentleman concerned have sparked interest among Google users, who are flocking to spot the attraction through the photographic service Street View.
The man in question is sporting black trousers, a garish lilac shirt and a horse’s head. The appearance of the odd figure on Google has sparked international interest, with many people over Europe writing in claiming they know who the person is. Comments submitted to the BBC website include “Horse-boy isn’t a person, it’s a cheap mask”, perhaps aiming to put people’s minds at rest that the hybrid part-horse part-man alien figure is just an odd human wearing fancy dress, rather than being a strange genetic mutation.
Such is the media interest in the odd figure that many people are claiming to be the person in the mask, or saying that they have met him at festivals or events in Germany, Cardiff and Norway. If nothing else, the wide coverage of the image and ensuing mystery as to who the person may be demonstrates the power of social computing to generate public interest. The web report on the BBC concerning the mystery horse mask rocketed last week, showing that people are genuinely interested in the story.
Related posts:
