your basic map from maps.google.com. This is where I used to live in Columbus, Ohio (from 5 to like 15). The maps get more interesting, as per the ‘Satellite’ link at top right

This map in itself is interesting. It’s one of the first implementations of AJAX (Asynchronous Java something). Sounds complicated, but it’s cool cause it’s so simple. Marco implemented it in one night for the tags at kottu.org. It basically lets you write web software where people can interact with the page rapidly, without reloading. The Adaptive Path article by Indi Young is a good explanation. Anyways, the mapping is interactive, fast and I can feed it all kinds of crap queries like ‘pizza columbus ohio’ and it finds me all the pizza places in the C-O, with phone numbers and everything. AJAX comes in that I can click on spots for more info and pick the map up and move it around. Verily, tis good, but click the ‘Satellite’ button at right and it gets even better.

This is a satellite view of where I used to live. You can see the golf course and the nuclear test site that is Hilliard. I went swimming at the country club once with TJ. One day in like 1997 you would have seen one brown spot in a sea of white in the pool. To the top left you can see Fishinger Bridge, where we used to row past on the crew team. We also had to run across that bridge a lot. There’s a McDonald’s at the end where I used to work. Anyways, the map gets better cause you can zoom.

This is the Riverpark Apartments Samarajiva Estate where I used to live. You can see the Scioto River, and to the bottom right, the old quarry. We used to go mountain biking there. At that bend right there I flipped my bike and got stabbed with the gear-circle-pointy thing in the leg. You can sorta see the old pipe bridge crossing the river. The other side led to an active quarry. We used to explore there until security would pick us up and drop us really far away. Sometimes the river would flood all the way up to the first row of houses and the ducks would be everywhere. One walked into our apartment, unceremoniously took a dump, and left. Oh, and you can sorta see the house where I watched TV for 15,000 hours of my life.

This mapping most definitely doesna cover Sri Lanka, even the Montreal map looks suspiciously hand-drawn. It is still quite ill. I should really use Flickr to make interactive memory maps, but I’m in no mood to upgrade this website. There’s also an interesting blog devoted to Google Maps Sightseeing, including Area 51, The Golden Gate, beautiful weirdness, and Disneyland.

Posted on Friday, April 8th, 2005 in Links, Tech, USA.