To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, the Consulate General of Italy in Boston and the MIT Mobile Experience Lab, in partnership with COMITES (Committee of Italians Abroad) of Boston, has developed Memory Traces: A Collection of Italian Memories of Boston. Boston's Italian community dates back to 1860, when the first immigrants came to the United States seeking better conditions than those of their homeland. For the past 150 years, Italian-Americans have played a prominent role in the city of Boston, having distinguished themselves in various disciplines including business, government, medicine, technology, humanities, and academia. Through geo-located video interviews, the Memory Traces project explores the Italian experience in Boston. These recollections from selected representatives of fi rst generation and American born Italians help preserve their heritage for future generations. The use of new media has enabled this interactive documentary. The Memory Traces project website features the stories overlaid on a map of the city. Stories can be filtered by person, time period, and a selection of themes that capture the
http://locast.mit.edu/memorytraces/ messages of the stories. A mobile application provides the opportunity for others to follow these memory trails through the city of Boston.