Making A Geospatial Web: Collaborative Cartography, Part I
The super excellent "Woolen Map Carpet" by Seyed Alavi, public art at the Sacramento Int'l Airport
I'm working through some questions related to the geospatial web. You know, the thing that some expect to arise when information that is buzzing within the data storage devices of the Internet are obtainable/searchable out there..in the normal human physical world.. Of course, the questions get slippery and difficult to frame fairly quickly because there aren't that many good examples of good examples of what the geospatial web might look like. Don't talk to me about virtual sticky note apps, or movie theater time look-ups based on where you are. I mean, you can talk to me — I'm just having trouble getting excited about such things, mostly because they seem a bit forced. I like the idea of spatial annotation, although I'm not entirely sure why. And I like the idea about being able to do semantically relevant things while I'm out and about and not just sitting in front of my screen at a fixed desk.
One thing I've been hopped up on for awhile is the possibility for massively multiplayer collaborative mapping. Essentially, geotagging — adding geographic semantics — across the globe. What does that mean? It means providng a simple, low-barrier-to-entry mechanic to allow pretty much anyone geared up to surf the web, to add geographic semantics to any arbitrary web resource.
It's a question — how do you do that?
Lately, I've been working with a chum, Will Carter, former IMD grad student, now mobile technology guy++, to develop a little theory object to help figure these questions out. It's got the friendly neighborhood "bookmarklet" semantics of del.icio.us, with some Yahoo! Maps seasoning.
Can't you just feel how cool this sort of thing could be? I mean, without even knowing what it is?
Read more about he geotagging usage scenario?
Technorati Tags: collaborative cartography, geospatial web, mapping
Comments
"One thing I've been hopped up on for awhile is the possibility for massively multiplayer collaborative mapping."
This intrigued me and I was wondering if you knew much about World of Warcraft. While not exactly the same thing... many people have used various recording techniques to "map" that world for future usage (http://www.thottbot.com/).
Obviously the technology is quite different but perhaps some lessons could be learned.
Usually it's done for the purpose of needed information to beat various levels/areas/dungeons.
It's a form of mapping that is collaborative (though automated) and used by many people.
Tech is still leads to usability issues though, at this state in the game for real world mapping (as I see it).
Posted by: Scott![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/jbleecker/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 23, 2006 9:59 PM