Use Google+ Hangouts for a Virtual Scavenger Hunt in the Palace of Versailles

This is definitely one of the coolest uses of Google+ that I have seen in a long time. Hangout Quest is a Google+ game that allows you to go on a virtual scavenger hunt inside the Palace of Versailles. The object of the scavenger hunt is to find artwork and other objects in the palace. If you invite others to your Hangout you can compete against them in a race to find the objects first.

Hangout Quest uses the Street View imagery of Google Maps to bring you inside the Palace of Versailles. Another cool piece of technology added to Hangout Quest is facial tracking. The facial tracking technology allows you to move around in the Palace of Versailles by just moving your head instead of clicking around with your mouse.

See Hangout Quest in action in the video below.

Applications for Education
I think that now that Google+ in available within Google Apps for Education the opportunities to use it for educational purposes will continue to expand. Hangout Quest could be a great activity for an art history or art appreciation class. Extend the game by adding a research component to it after students have completed the quest.

Big thanks to Google Maps Mania for this one.