Pinpoint locations of G1 and G2 Insights

[russellc]

Originally Posted by Rick-Dallas

Google maps are much more flexible than most people realize. Here is a tutorial of some of the things you can do with Google maps that typically take very little (none?) programming skills.

Google Earth Outreach

I was fortunate enough to get one of Googles web-only Chrome beta notebooks for testing purposes. There was a map already created for all of the beta test users of the product and it was simple to add myself to the existing map.

Check it out. No costs/fees and might work for us as is.

That's nice for people who don't know programming, but you have less control with Google Maps and the other content you put on the web site

In addition, you can't put this content on you own web hosting site and you can't use your own domain name. You use Google's domain.



Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[thedhgroup]

Originally Posted by russellc

That's nice for people who don't know programming, but you have less control with Google Maps and the other content you put on the web site

In addition, you can't put this content on you own web hosting site and you can't use your own domain name. You use Google's domain.

Unless you Iframe or do a domain forward with masking. Still that does not address the issue of control. Thanks for taking this on russellc. I'll try to help if I can but my knowledge of designing things for the web stopped in the 90's.

[azaviator]

Hi all,

I'm watching this thread eagerly, waiting to see what you, the more technically advanced than me, come up with.

One thing I would like to see (and has already been suggested by others) is a way to get in contact with others on the map: could be by email, forwarded email (to keep personal email off the site), or PM. This would allow members to ask for help, or just be able to get to know others around them.

One more thing: maybe give a checkbox for 'does not want to be contacted', in case someone would like to be listed but not involved. One problem with this is that it's very easy to check the box without understanding the benefits to getting involved (in the interest of internet safety/security)... so, maybe not...

Sorry to discount one of my own ideas, although it could work if implemented correctly. Just thinking out loud (with my fingers). Again, I can't get involved as I don't have the skill for it, but am watching closely from the sidelines to see what can be done. Thanks to ALL who can!!!

[racer26]

The Google Maps API is almost entirely usable from your own site, no iframes required.

Have a look at Car-Du Elevation Mapper - powered by Google

That's a page I built a few months ago for insighters to be able to see the Elevation trace of an arbitrary route.

I built it in an afternoon, and it doesn't frame up any google-controlled pages. It uses their API to pull down the pieces of their stuff I want, and arranges it how I set it.

[thedhgroup]

Another example:
Volt Stats: Owner Map

[jime]

Although I love this discussion, and I would love to have a handy way to find a nearby Gen 1 owner, I'm beginning to think that there is a dark side. Seems to me that whatever we do, there is a security risk. Without contact capability information the map is interesting but nearly useless, and yet there would seem to be little protection from the malicious or spammer. How about the thief who wants to steal an Insight? How about some unnamed individual or group who wants to target Insight owners for any purpose they can imagine? Even if we made it available only to IC members, anyone can join IC. We could off any abuser, but the damage might already be done.

As you can see, I'm one who clearly has a suspicous view of the potential dark side of this new marvel we have called the internet. Sorry, I just don't have universal trust in the altruistic motives of everyone with an internet connection.

Just some relevant thoughts before I place my location and personal car ownership information out for the world to view.