Via James Swansburg and the Uberweather blog…
Google has re-invented maps and GIS. Now we have “Consumer GIS” at a scale and speed that is unprecedented. If you have not played with it, the “Secret Sauce” is Google Fusion Tables (GFT). GFT allows almost unlimited data to be displayed on a Google Map and it is “Clickable”. And did I mention it is free!
So what can you build with this? Check out Uber Weather. Built by one programmer with no budget. Amazing!
Google pre-renders GFT data and caches it. The more you use GFT, the faster it gets. So upload your interesting data and make it public. You win, the public wins. If your data would be cool on Uber Weather (UW), send me the link.
Mainstream? What is that all about? Maps and Weather are top search keywords. Combine the two and now we have serious reach! Uber Weather is “maps” and “weather” with GIS ”sugar”. How about 13,000 “Ski Lifts”, instantly on the map at all times. This allows “Visual Search” and discovery at a unprecedented scale.
Game Changing Technology. Since amazing products can now be built and distributed with very tiny budgets, they don’t need to be covered in SPAM (Display Ads) to pay for the huge overhead. This is huge. Give the public a choice between the current “Noise” and content that is 100% free of spam and there will be a massive shift in public demand. Be part of it. Help kill spam. Keep the Internet for content.
Uber Weather is doing its part. It is a “David & Goliath Story”, but it could have the same effect that Netflix had on the entrenched “Blockbuster Video” business model.
If you go back through the posts, there are some related ones with videos that you may find useful:
- Uber Weather in Google Chrome Store – this makes UW very handy to launch from Chrome and is free (of course)
- Kickstart the Ski World – the videos go into some interesting stats and business case
- Uber Weather accepted into the Google Places API Developer Challenge 2012 – Vote for change! There is a “Peoples Choice” award, go cast your vote.
GIS means accuracy. Accuracy is truth. We need more truth.
Source: http://wp.me/p159r5-8w