Maps and Whereness - Ubiquitous Positioning - page 156

8.9 Summary

In this chapter we have seen how traditional maps have changed from pictorial
images to digital informational spaces that can be manipulated in GIS software
that uses a vector representation of space. This has enabled the maps to move
from flat 2D graphics and become true 3D representations that can be manipulated
on a computer screen to provide a much more meaningful user interface. We have
seen the fantastic strides that recent Web 2.0 techniques and organizations like
Google have made in bringing digital maps to ordinary people who can use a
global resource with minimal need to learn any skills or pay any charges. Mobile
devices such as the iPhone mean the maps can be used on the move and
customization means the information will be what the user wants, delivered when
it is wanted and in the desired format. The map metaphor is becoming the portal
into the world's information and is a disruptive technology as all manner of other
Web 2.0 services gain a geographical and positional perspective.
Service providers are exposing their underlying information via APIs and thus
allow third parties to mashup data to create new services. AJAX is a key Web 2.0
technique that empowers the user's browser so that ordinary people can have a
powerful GIS-like system without buying or installing any new software.
Maps are also becoming dynamic and adding the fourth dimension of time so
that real-time changes and the needs of moving users can be met. New services
based on event management are now possible. Further dimensions extend
mapping into virtual worlds and augmented reality where the virtual worlds can
overlay the real world.
Users can become map content creators and soon will be able to observe
themselves on the map as well as use it. Traditional mapmakers are no longer the
only organizations with high-quality digital maps.
The standards activities that underpin the Web are leading to new mapping
markup languages and the Semantic Web is beginning to provide a framework to
bring all of Whereness together.

References

[1] O'Reilly, T., ”What is Web2.0,” http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/

2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html, Dec. 2007.

[2] UK Government's Highways Agency, Traffic England , http://www.highways.gov.uk/

traffic/traffic.aspx, Dec. 2007.

[3] Google Maps , http://maps.google.com/, Jan. 2008.

[4] Google Earth , http://earth.google.com/, Jan. 2008.

[5] Blakely, R., ”Microsoft Challenges Google's Dominance with $50m Deal to Buy Multimap

Website,” The Times , 13 Dec. 2007 pp. 51.

[6]

Multimap , http://www.multimap.com/, Jan. 2008.