Monthly Archives: June 2009

Jun 20 2009

What’s Here?

A new feature was recently added to Google Maps that increases the functionality for me.  I’ve long used maps to do a little exploring, getting driving instructions, and for calculating mileage when I forget to set the odometer in my car.

Just enter an address or a pair of addresses or a lattitude/longitude combination and voila.  The whole concept of Geographic Information Systems is magic to me as an end user although the computer scientist in me lets me know that rationally, it’s just information that’s highly organized and easily retrieved.

When bored, I often just load a map and explore.

Google’s new feature enhances the exploration for me.  Until now, one of the limitations of maps is that you need to know the actual address to plot it.  That’s still the best way when you know in advance the address of your place of interest.  However, when you just have a notion of what you’re looking for, check out the “What’s Here?” feature.

You might be new to Windsor, Ontario.  Downtown Windsor looks like this according to Google Maps.

It’s a nice looking map.  Certainly the yellow roads help you navigate parts of the downtown core.  If you look, you can see where the tunnel entrance is to take you under the Detroit River to downtown Detroit.  You can identify beautiful Dieppe Park.  Until recently, the Windsor Spitfires played hockey at the Windsor Area.But, if you look closely, you’ll see an area of green at the corner of University Avenue and Goyeay Street.

What’s here?

Short of hopping in the car and driving there, a great deal of research and trial and error would be required to figure this out.  No longer, with the new feature of Google Maps.

Just place your cursor over the green area and click your right mouse button.  The bottom option is “What’s Here?”  Select that and watch what happens.

Why, it’s part of the City Hall complex!  Now you know.  Exploration goes to a new level with this feature.  In addition, to identifying the location, any geo tagged photos are presented and Google invites you to “Explore this area”.  Go ahead.  Geographically, you’ll be all the richer.

Imagine the possibilities in the classroom.  Exploration and Scavenger Hunts just became that much richer and exciting.

Social Bookmarks:

Powered by ScribeFire.

Jun 20 2009

links for 2009-06-19

Jun 19 2009

Lurking in the Backchannel

Recently, there were some incredible video and comments about the potential of Google Wave. I’m very excited about the prospects and potential for collaboration with this new tool and have already signed up for a notification when it goes live – or the perpetual beta…

The concepts are very technical in nature and good reading is available at the Wave Protocol website.  With what I read, the potential is enormous as we break the mold again with what we think we know about communication and staying connected.

Image via Wikipedia

So, what’s going on? 

Down under, there’s a Google Wave Developer Day happening in Sydney.  And, of course, they’re Twittering about it.  By following the hashtag #wavedaysyd, you too can stay on top of the buzz. 

I’m seeing comments flying about iPhone, Android, video, email, demo, games, IRC, Robot, gadget, and so on.  Every one of these words inspire me with some ideas about what the future might hold.

Now, my wonderful little Bubby gets disgusted when I just sit there and read stuff like this.  She uses the term “Lurker” and not in a good way.  I have a totally different perspective.  I’m excited about this initiative and developers are creating their own backchannel to discuss it.  The least I can do is follow it!

For an indepth discussion, check out Jodie Miners’ blog.

This is a really exciting time.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Jun 19 2009

links for 2009-06-18

Jun 18 2009

Bandwidth Wednesday

I’m calling yesterday “Bandwidth Wednesday”. Lots of my favourite applications had updates that were being broadcast and so I just had to stay on top of them.  It’s always nice to have the latest applications so that you can enjoy the newest features but it’s also important to stay on top of updates to avoid security problems.

So, here’s what happened…

  • First, I get an email from Seesmic indicating that there’s an update to the Seesmic Desktop.  I’ve got to have that.  Twitter is my lifeline to my online learning community.
  • So, I get that installed and when Seesmic Desktop opens, I see messages from the folks that I follow that OS 3.0 is available for the iPod.  Got to have that.  Not thrilled by the $9.99 but I give in and pay it.
  • So, it’s installed and I poke around to see what’s new.  I head to the App Store, and as one would expect with a new OS, there were updates to some of the applications on my iPod.  Grab them.
  • I had read that there was a different interface to the App Store so I poke around and notice that there’s now a Tweetdeck for my iPod.  Gotta check that out!
  • Then, I get a notification from Facebook that one of my daughters had just made a move in our Word Twist world championship.  I’ll have to get even with her.  Hmmm.  Wonder if I have the latest Facebook Application for Blackberry.  Turns out there was an update.  I grab that too.
  • Then, as I settle in to do some work up pops a notification that Firefox 3.5 has been released.  I grab that – it turns out that notification was only sent to those who were using the release candidate.  It is probably a technique to make sure that the servers aren’t over loaded.

That’s not a bad night’s work worth of updating!  Membership does have its privileges as well.  The Seesmic Desktop update and Firefox update were only available to a few folks.  Look for widespread updating shortly, I suspect.

More than staying current, I marvel at how all of these updates have been automated.  There was a time when an update meant booking time from your schedule at the local store with your credit card.  Now, properly configured applications let you know when it’s time.  Properly configured, your online learning networks shares the news that updates are impending.  Properly configured, your personal maintenance habits go a long way to making sure that your updated so that you have the latest features and the latest security updates.

Social Bookmarks:

Powered by ScribeFire.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Jun 18 2009

links for 2009-06-17

Jun 17 2009

When you’re too tired to barbeque

Try this…


I’m sorry…this is just wrong.  If you can’t barbeque, boil it in a can and then eat your cheeseburger that way?  Just the thought is enough to make me become a vegetarian.

Not all technological advances sit well with me and this is one of them.

It’s just not going to happen in our household.

Jun 17 2009

links for 2009-06-16

Jun 16 2009

Where are you? and Privacy

I had an interesting moment yesterday.  A Twitter friend had posted an image and tweeted about it.  I clicked on over to see it and it was a great picture.  I enjoyed it and as I was about to leave the website, I noticed that the biography of this person had been copied over from the Twitter profile.

The biography had a lattitude and longitude as one of the features of the iPhone/iPod is its ability to use GPS and pass it off to various applications to provide information and functionality about just where you happen to be.  I copied these coordinates and paste them into Google Maps and quickly zeroed in on the location.  All of this took maybe 2 minutes – tops.

The location feature is an awesome functionality and lends some great utlity (and fun) to your portable device.

For example:


Image via Wikipedia
  • TimmyMe – this utlity lets you know where you’ll find the closest Tim Horton store if you’re in need of a coffee fix;
  • Google Earth – the button in the bottom left corner of the application zeros in on your current location;
  • Earthscape – same type of functionality as Google Earth;
  • Urbanspoon – lets you determine the closest restaurants to your current location;
  • AroundMe – enables you to find a wide variety of services around your current location;
  • Twinkle – has a nearby feature so that you can find messages from folks around you whether you’re following them on Twitter or not as wel as access to the Tapulous network.

And the list goes on and on.

Many Twitter clients will allow you to see the messages from your friends but also from anyone who is physically “around you” based upon your current location.  It tends to be a great feature to find new local friends.  But, as you poke around the settings, pay special attention to the GPS settings.  As an enhancement feature, many applications will offer to update your Twitter profile with your current location.  If that current location happens to be your family room, you’re broadcasting your house to the world.  Just think it through – is this really what you want to do?

Good behaving applications will ask you when you launch them – can I use your current location?  It’s worth your time and effort to look through the documentation to see what truly will happen if you say yes.  It may not be what you had intended.

Social Bookmarks:
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Powered by ScribeFire.