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Trend: Google Maps Mashups
Written By Josefine Koehn on Monday, October 9, 2006 at 7:45 PM | In Marketing Trends, Technology Trends, Lifestyle Trends, USA
Online services and websites are using the innovative and convenient interface of Google Maps in conjunction with their information streams.
Trend Description:
In March 2006 we featured the marketing trend of the use of Google Maps for advertising - termed Mapvertising.
Since then increasingly businesses have integrated Google Maps to show locations or to help users track something down: Transportation companies offer transit and rail maps, you also can check the traffic and find parking spots via Google Maps. There is a huge variety of weather maps, travel maps and even real estate maps. Statistics and demographics can be tracked via Google Maps as well as history or current events. You can find fitness and recreation spots, dates or speciality stores. There are maps about music, movies and even crime. The integration of information sources paired with Google’s mapping technology is called a „mash up“. And the Google Maps creation tools make it easy for almost everybody and any group to start their own Google Maps tracking service, sharing pictures, locations, information.
Cases:
SuperHighStreet
SuperHighStreet is a virtual shopping concept supported by Google Maps. The virtual shopping interface allows consumers to walk down the street, view store fronts and click on them to go inside, which means in that case to enter their website. While consumers walk down the street they can see themselves from above with a Google Maps aerial view. Street sounds and live webcams enhance the real shopping feeling. So far SuperHighStreet includes Rodeo Drive, Beverley Hills, Ocean Drive, Miami, Oxford Street, London, Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London, and George Street, Richmond Upon Thames, Surrey. Soon to come: Fifth Avenue, New York.
Earthalbum
Earthalbum is the newest innovation in video and image mashups. The websites uses Google Maps to browse Flickr pictures and YouTube videos. Users simply have to tap on a country to see a filmstrip view of images and videos, which are available. By clicking on the thumbnail users can start a specific video. While browsing for pictures and videos, users never have to leave the map interface.
Find by Click
Using the Google Maps interface, „FindbyClick“ helps consumers to find the closest coffee shops in their area. A new application will also enable consumers to use their mobile phone to track down a coffee shop next to their location. Users just have to download some links and will never have to miss their caffeine fix again. FindbyClick’s Mobile Service works one of Pentura’s location-based Spatial DataBox Family solutions.
Trend Impact:
Although there are already many, many websites using the google Maps interface we probably can expect many more. This easy to use interface let’s consumers explore the web in a way they would explore the real world. Services like SuperHighStreet which are adding real-time sound, pics and videos are definitely going the right way, letting the virtual traveler experience the whole world right from their computer screen. As connections will still become faster and the quality of broadband will increase, virtual explorations via pictures and videos will gain more and more popularity. Maybe the old-fashioned search via words and links will soon not be of any attraction any more.
More Google Maps Mashes on GoogleMapsMania Blogspot
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