[Geowanking] beyond map mashups

[Andrew Bolt]

On 20 Jun 2008, at 14:52, Eric Wolf wrote:
> Stephen write wrote:
> > So I believe a 3d environment in real time is the minimum starting
> > point. So I could go to something like Second Life, but that lacks  
> the
> > scope and ambition of mirroring reality itself.
>
> Beware the follies of the 1:1 scale map!
>
> Maps convey meaning about reality that is something beyond  
> information. Adding more information (mirroring reality) does not  
> necessarily convey the meaning.

I fully agree with your warning Eric.  Second Life is perhaps a bad  
example to pick on here, because it does have an in-game map.  This  
exists for precisely the reasons you describe - it's great to be able  
to fly around a 3d world, but to find things you need a map.

Google Earth might be a better case in point.  You have the whole  
planet at your fingertips, but no map (as far as I remember).  It can  
be lots of fun (and educational) trying to find a place just be  
scrolling, zooming and flying -- but you really wouldn't want to use  
Google Earth (on its own) to plan a hike or a road trip because it  
doesn't make any attempt at interpreting the landscape beneath you.

So I hope that Stephen's plans to mirror reality aren't intended to be  
so accurate that the only way of finding your way around in the 1:1  
scale model of the world is to buy a virtual map and a virtual plane  
ticket.  I share his frustration at the lack of an immersive, free  
virtual model of the planet.  But I do agree that playing with mash- 
ups is a great way of learning more about different ways to present  
information about the world.

Cheers,

Andrew