Thing 33: Travel 2.0

Ok, so I think I'm starting to get this "2.0" label attached to everything. It's not just that people have new ways to send links to each other, but that websites are redesigned to allow more content from users. I guess I'm kind of surprised that this is such a big deal, since this is not new technology or even new applications of it, just that more websites are doing it? Or at least that more websites that non-nerds pay attention to are doing it, so magazines are writing stories about it.

In that sense I guess Travel 2.0 is a good name, although I think that's only if you count ticket-buying sites like expedia.com as "Travel 1.0" websites. It seems to me that the kinds of reviews, hints and picture-sharing these travel websites are all about have been around since BBS days, but that now they're redesigned to get more exposure. I don't have a problem with this or anything, I just think it's necessary to be accurate about this.

I'm not planning on taking a vacation any time soon, so I couldn't use these sites precisely the way they were intended, but I get the theory. It's nice to have overviews of what people like, with ratings, but I'm not sure how extremely helpful this would be. Of course the Hilton hotel in San Francisco is 5 star, I probably didn't need a website to tell me that, you know? And of course I'm going to see The Louvre if I'm in France. The real hidden treasure of these websites should be to identify the little hole-in-the-wall, out of the way places that aren't necessarily well known, and there is an element of that in all the mire. But once again I am frustrated with the site layout and navigation, which seems counterproductive to sorting things out in this (or another) way. I realize that if you have a huge amount of people adding reviews for things you'll get a lot of content about only the most popular, universal things but there should be a way to deal with this. Maybe there could be a "Critics choice" kinda thing? Where stuff that has been highly rated but only a few times is suggested. Something like that, maybe.

Maybe in Web 3.0 everyone will stop running around in circles patting themselves on the back for their clever application of existing technology, and do some damn troubleshooting!

Thing 32: Google Map-O-Saurus

It's been a long time since I did one of these. I basically lost track of where I was on everything so I'm just gonna call it good on the previous entries and move on. To GOOGLE MAPS!

Google kinda creeps me out some. I mean maps are cool and all but it freaked me out being able to walk around in the street view of Downtown Fargo and it was JUST LIKE BEIN' THERE. Except sometimes it switches from day to night real rapidly because they took the pictures at different times. But anyway, still crazy, or maybe creepy.

So I made a pretty basic map of how to get from my apartment to the library:
Check it out

It was very easy to do. I could see this being pretty useful. I'm thinking of some kind of citywide event, where there are different exhibits or demonstrations all over town, and the website has a link to google maps with all the points bulleted. Or, obviously, just having a link on the library website to show where we're located. I'm wondering now if there's a browser add-on somewhere that lets you click on any address in a browser window and have it look it up on google maps? They have one of that kind of thing for phone numbers and skype. Although it may be a little more difficult to distinguish an address. In any case, it shouldn't be too hard to make the address on the Moorhead LARL website a link to a google map showing its location.

I'd like to see a community-wide map of the city, where everyone can label their house to add information if they want to. Or you can label the exact spot where you think you lost your gloves. Then others can check the spot where THEY found some gloves and see if anyone labeled it? Or you could label like "This is where I saw the gorgeous redhead filling up her car's gas tank last Tuesday". And then if SHE'S looking for you too, she could totally see that and look you up somehow. Community billboard sounds awesome!