untangling_the_web

DID: 4046925
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Maps and Mapping
Maps and mapping technology continued to expand and improve during 2006, in
large part because of competition with Google Maps. Virtually all the online maps get
their data from one of two companies: Navteq or Tele Atlas. It is what each map site
does with that data-how it implements its user interface and what features it
offers-that makes it distinctive. Google Maps and Google's downloadable property
Google Earth, helped inspire a cottage industry of what are termed "mashups," a
music industry term transformed into computer slang meaning to "mix at least two
different services from disparate, and even competing, websites." The best known
mashups involve overlaying data such as crime statistics onto Google, Yahoo, Live
Search's Virtual Earth, and other maps.
Some of these innovations are detailed in Untangling the Web; others, while no
doubt useful in their own right, do not address specific research needs of this
audience and are best left for other venues.
Google Maps & Google Earth
During 2005, Google and Microsoft both introduced a new dimension to their map
sites with satellite maps. Google uses the Keyhole technology it purchased in 2004
and Microsoft uses its own TerraServer data to generate its satellite maps at its
Virtual Earth page. Google went one step further, combining its satellite imagery with
its traditional maps to offer a "hybrid" view, which overlays a map onto the satellite
image of the U.S., Canada, most of Europe, and Japan. Google is facing stiff
competition not only from its US competitors but also from exceptionally fine
European mapping companies. See below for a comparison between Google and
Mappy in the European map market.
Google Maps allows users to toggle among map, satellite, or hybrid (labeled) views.
Google Maps uses the now ubiquitous address bubbles that can be closed and the
ability to get directions between locations. Google Maps is one of the best sites for
navigating around the map smoothly using with the mouse. In mid-2006 Google
Maps added the zoom in/out feature using the mouse scroll wheel.
Google Maps also has a preview window, a small window inside the larger map
window that shows a small image of the larger map. The intent is to let users see a
larger view of an area
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