Pinpoint locations of G1 and G2 Insights

[thedhgroup]

To the forum moderators and or creators. Is there anyway to create or use something like this on InsightCentral.net?

Around the World | The Mission Ball

or

EVAlbum: Search Results

I would hesitate to build anything from the member database since there are probably tons of members on the roster that are no longer active. So this would have to be voluntary. I tried searching for some kind of free mapping solution but no luck. Ideally it would be nice to be able to differentiate between G1 and G2 and maybe someday G3 Insights.

All I think we need is a form that asks:
InsightCentral alias
G1 or G2
City
Country

Then from that data it generates a worldwide map with pinpoints - maybe a different color pin for G1 and G2. If participation is good, then maybe make it a sticky.

I thought maybe this would help with folks wanting to meet up. I'd like to get together with other owners to compare notes but I don't know of any that are less than 4 hours away. Maybe the map would surprise me.

[russellc]

Originally Posted by thedhgroup

To the forum moderators and or creators. Is there anyway to create or use something like this on InsightCentral.net?

Around the World | The Mission Ball

or

EVAlbum: Search Results

I would hesitate to build anything from the member database since there are probably tons of members on the roster that are no longer active. So this would have to be voluntary. I tried searching for some kind of free mapping solution but no luck. Ideally it would be nice to be able to differentiate between G1 and G2 and maybe someday G3 Insights.

All I think we need is a form that asks:
InsightCentral alias
G1 or G2
City
Country

Then from that data it generates a worldwide map with pinpoints - maybe a different color pin for G1 and G2. If participation is good, then maybe make it a sticky.

I thought maybe this would help with folks wanting to meet up. I'd like to get together with other owners to compare notes but I don't know of any that are less than 4 hours away. Maybe the map would surprise me.

Hey... that looks like something I could make!

I work as a Web Developer and I know all about HTML, ASP.NET, JavaScript and Google Maps API V3. We could have a mapped directory of Insight owners (1st and 2nd gen.). If enough people are interested let me know. I would be very interested in building this kind of web site. But, I would need some help and suggestions from other people as well.



Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[retepsnikrep]

As the forum is owned/run by Autoguide.com perhaps you could aim the idea at them as i assume you will need some background link into the system. They might be intersted in it as an add on for all their forums. The forum is a VBULLETIN one so that might be a good in as well. As admin I only have limited powers but i think the idea is a good one.

[Willie Williford]

Back...years ago there was such a thing posted on ICN. I can't remember the link, but I'll see if I can find it.
There were a bunch of INSIGHTERS posted and it was similar to the Mapquest evolution.
The developer or originator was the INSIGHTER that used to autocross his INSIGHT in SO Cal. I think.
HTH
Willie

[jime]

I like and support the idea. Just a caution, we wouldn't want enough definition to actually have street addresses, for privacy concerns - I think.

[Willie Williford]

I can't find the link, but it was "Mike" from around the Escondido, Carlsbad, CA. area. and it was in 2005. His car was a silver 2001. (I had that info in my book "WHY NOT", page 58 of 113 so far) It only showed the town and state.

Still searching
Willie

[Eli]

This would be very cool.

May help pinpoint good areas to setup meets.

[jerrydelrey]

Wow this can be interesting.

[russellc]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

As the forum is owned/run by Autoguide.com perhaps you could aim the idea at them as i assume you will need some background link into the system. They might be intersted in it as an add on for all their forums. The forum is a VBULLETIN one so that might be a good in as well. As admin I only have limited powers but i think the idea is a good one.

You can ask them if they'll create it, but you might have to wait a few months or so before they implement it on all their forums, and that's if they decide do it.

I can start working on it now and it would no way compete or take the place of anything on the InsightCentral forum. But if more people prefer to have it within IC, then see what they say. I just thought I would offer to build the site, because right now in my job, I'm working with Google Maps API and JavaScript on a project and I would like to contribute something to the Insight community. Someone who least knows HTML and JavaScript could help me out with this as well.



Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[thedhgroup]

Originally Posted by russellc

You can ask them if they'll create it, but you might have to wait a few months or so before they implement it on all their forums, and that's if they decide do it.

Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

The positive of Autoguide implementing it would be a tie-in to the member's control panel. The downside is probably the if and when it could get done.

How do we ask? Who exactly do we ask?

If we feel like doing this on our own, I applaud russellc for responding and taking on the task.

I have some questions that may determinate how elaborate the the back end would be:

In order to contribute your Insight's location do we ask for "registration"? or just allow folks to input in locations? I would suggest registration so we don't get spammed.

Can we allow for a picture similar to the mission ball example in the first post? What happens if the user uploads a picture directly from their phone or computer - would we need a server side photo resizer?

What happens if a member moves and wants to change location.

What if a member sells their insight? The pinpoints could get way inaccurate over time.

Should the map send periodic emails to members to see if they still want to be in the list?

Do we need to buy a domain? I can contribute some server space and an SQL database if needed.

Just thinking out loud. Maybe I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be.

So anybody else have any design thoughts?