I love when something that is old or discarded is discovered to have a new use or can be applied in a new way. This recent article (Google Maps helps solve decades-old missing man mystery) reminded me of how technology — even older technology that you probably forgot about — can support your story.
According to the article, a property surveyor looking at Google Earth spotted a car in a pond near a housing development. The police were notified and once they retrieved the car, investigators discovered the skeletal remains of William Earl Moldt who has been missing since 1997.
What I like about using technology like satellite images in storytelling is they are visual and for storytelling purposes, the images are usually easy for the viewer to see what you want them to see. The audience isn’t scanning the screen and wondering, “What am I supposed to see?”
I could see this idea being used in stories that are about investigating cold missing persons or missing children cases.
Or
Other cold murder cases
Or
Any criminal investigation where the landscape is changed (There wasn’t a development there or a pond use to be there.).
Or
The case doesn’t need to be old. How about a more recent case where the criminals think they covered their tracks but they didn’t.
Who wants to talk more about how you can use this idea in your current or next story?
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