[Geowanking] Re: update - open letter to google

[Sonny Parafina]

Richard Fairhurst wrote:

> Without wanting to sound churlish, I don't see any true genius in 
> Google Maps - though it's still a wondrous product.
>
> The API is good, but solid software engineering doesn't make genius.
>
Despite my fondness for geowanking, I am more of a fan getting things 
done.  I have low standards for genius. 

After spending 6 years being a good OGC citizen (and diverting lots and 
lots of dollars to them), its dismaying to see how quickly and easily 
the Google Maps API is adopted in comparison to OGC standards.  I have 
always told other GIS profiessionals that despite all the technology and 
design we throw at geospatial, at the end of the day, all people want is 
a map.  Giving people what they want  and solving the problem rates high 
in my book.

>
> But in the US, you've got TIGER and all sorts of useful stuff. Build a 
> free, next-generation webmapping site for a major city - just for one 
> district, if you like - and let the hackers play as they have done 
> with Google Maps.

There are OGC services available for the continental US as well as US 
cities that predate google maps by years, but I don't see many clients 
using those services.

sonny