Notes from the SXSW I neocartography panel
15 March 2009 | Posted by Jeffrey Barke | 2 comments
Neocartography: Mapping Design and Usability Evolved
Designers are dropping maps into their applications with little concern for usability or design and users are getting "Google Map fatigue." We need to move beyond the simple pin-dropping and consider appropriate mapping interfaces. This panel will look at the current and emerging tools to provide compelling geographic interaction and visualization.
- Andrew Turner, Mapufacture
- Michal Migurski, CTO, Stamen Design
- David Heyman, Axis Maps LLC
- Elizabeth Windram, Senior User Experience Designer, Google
Please note: These notes were typed and published live. I'll clean them up at some point in the future. Audio forthcoming.
Andrew started with a slideshow of where we’ve come from: past/present comparison. Driving directions from the 20s compared to Google Streetview. Took old concepts and moved to the Web. Where has it worked/not worked. New paradigms for what is possible with cartography. (Will Turner post to SlideShare?)
- Red dot fever
- When the Google Maps API first really hit the scene lots of web programmers mashed up locations with Google maps and used a red splodge as a location. When you have lots of these symbols on a map you get a screen view that looks as if your PC has come down with measles, hence red dot fever.
Three about the Google Maps API
17 November 2006 | Posted by Jeffrey Barke | No comments
Three posts bundled as one about various things Google Maps API, including: an API plugin for Dreamweaver (no JavaScript required!), one-minute mashups by Google and the datum and projection used by Google.
WebAssist Dreamweaver tools for Google
Posted by Brandon Badger, Product Manager, Google Maps API:
We want to highlight a new tool that helps make the Google Maps API accessible to even more web developers. We're for everyone becoming a JavaScript expert, but sometimes it's nice to lean on a tool to get development done quickly. WebAssist has created a free plugin for Adobe Dreamweaver that walks you through a simple wizard to add a Google Maps API powered map to your webpage. The properties of the map can even be edited via Dreamweaver's WYSIWYG editor.
WebAssist Dreamweaver Tools For Google (free)
From the Google Maps API Blog
Map search wizard
The Google AJAX Search API team has put together a map search wizard to help you put a searchable map on your web page in three easy steps:
- Customize it—Use the wizard to define the map's width, height, zoom level, title, location, etc.
- Provide your site's URL—This is used by the wizard to create your free Maps API and AJAX Search API keys to associate with your web site.
- Hit the magic button—Click on the "Generate Code" button and the wizard will create the customized JavaScript for your map. Just paste this code into your web page, and voilà, your users will have the power of Google Maps at their fingertips.
From the Google Maps API Blog
Google Maps projection
According to Google (official), they use a Mercator projection for their maps (both street and satellite). Charlie Savage provides quite a bit more detail in a blog post, though (unofficial, but very informative):
From last time, we know that a geodetic coordinate system consists of a datum, a projection, an origin, a unit system, two axes and perhaps an origin offset. Without further ado, this is what Google is doing:
- Datum—WGS84 (I'm assuming this, I've never seen verification of it)
- Projection—Mercator
- Unit system—pixels (believe it or not)
- Axes—standard east, non-standard south
- Origin—near the north pole on the international date line
From cfis
Free Google Maps Icons
26 August 2006 | Posted by Jeffrey Barke | 3 comments
While doing a printable map for Conflux, I received a request to number the points and create a key. While this isn't a difficult task, it does require a set of numbered icons. I was in a hurry and didn't want to create my own: enter Brennan's Blog.
Brennan created several icons in red, green and blue, which are numbered 1 to 25 each. He also included an empty one as well as the Photoshop master. Visit his post to download the .zip. Thanks, Brennan!
