Interactive maps

Multi-Touch Map of Silicon Valley exhibit

 

Description:

Design an effective graphic interface and navigational tool for an interactive map of Silicon Valley based on Google Earth/Street View/etc.

The map will feature either a large electronic whiteboard or a digital table (maybe Microsoft Surface) that could be manipulated in real time by more than just one person (multi-touch).  By using their fingers, hands or bodies, different streams of information will be displayed on the screen. Such interactive map will allow medium-large scale collaboration among many visitors. The map will display many different layers of information related to the Silicon Valley – ethnicity, population, traffic, key cultural, educational and industrial centers etc - such information will be updated in real-time using web data streams (ex. http://mullinslab2.ucsf.edu/SFrentstats/). Users will be able to view and overlay all sorts of "geo-temporal data" (data with recorded location and time information) and generate time slices of the data, much like a moving weather map.

 

Design Requirements:

 

* It should contain layers of information that would be interesting and educational.
* It should include description of changes over time as illustrated on the map of topics such as agriculture, industry, and diverse populations.
* It should consider the zoomable elements possible using software such as Seadragon  http://livelabs.com/seadragon/
* Must be feasible to be built.

 

 

 Examples and Resources:

 Try to think of innovative ways to interact with the map images. For example, think about combining off-the-shelf hardware like the Nintendo Wii's controller, the WiiMote, as an interface (see below).

 

GIS and Mapping resources:  Use these open-source tools to add mapping features to an exhibit.

OpenJUMP:                
http://www.openjump.org/wiki/show/HomePage

OpenStreetMap.org:

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world.
http://www.openstreetmap.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap

Tools and APIs allowing developers to create rich interactive experiences on the web and mobile:
http://cloudmade.com/

 

Public Earth.com
http://www.publicearth.com/ 

 

SpatialKey:

SpatialKey is a Visualization, Analysis and Reporting System. Its visualization templates are unique ways of looking at geotemporal (location+time) datasets. This software can be used for Animation/PlaybackMap Comparison, Drill Down, Temporal Heat Index.

http://www.spatialkey.com/spatialkey/www/index.cfm

http://www.spatialkey.com/spatialkey/www/gallery/gallery_home.cfm

 

Google Earth + Wii:

Engineer David Oster that allows users to "surf" any region on the Earth's surface using a Nintendo Wii Balance Board and the Google Earth API.

http://code.google.com/apis/earth/ 
http://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Wii+Balance+Board%22

 

Keyhole Markup Language:
http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/ug_kml.html
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/whatiskml.html

 

 

New York City GO Visitor Center:

The online visitor center in NY uses Google Maps to help people find what they need when visiting NYC including reservations to broadway, hotels, etc. The physical visitor center has big screen monitors letting you peruse the city with Google Earth, Street View, and more.

http://nycgo.com/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-rfH-UrC-s

 

 

Perceptive Pixel:   http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

and Jeff Hann's presentation at TED

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jeff_han_demos_his_breakthrough_touchscreen.html

 

Jeff Han's work:  

 

See more at: http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/

"Han's touch display is made of clear acrylic with light-emitting diodes attached to the edges, illuminating the six-millimeter-thick acrylic piece with infrared light. Normally, the light from the diodes reflects along predictable paths within the acrylic, a physical phenomenon called total internal reflection. However, once a finger or other object touches the acrylic, the internally reflecting light diffuses at the point of contact, scattering outside the surface. Behind the acrylic surface, there is a camera that captures this light. Using simple image-processing software, the captured scattering is interpreted in real time as discrete touches and strokes." (Kate Green, Technology Review) 

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/18079/page1/

 

Using Multi-touch to control Google Earth: Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr98be8P_Sc

 

Off the shelf multi-touch:
http://www.tactable.com/

 

Inspirational work on maps
http://hypercities.com/about/
http://stamen.com/
http://www.monopolycitystreets.com/
http://www.scimaps.org/maps/browse/