Maker! And my Reaction!

by KUMIKO YAMAZAKI on October 2, 2008 • apps geoweb: • 1 COMMENT

Here’s my first creation on Maker!. It’s displaying obesity in the U.S. along with the top bike commuting cities.

Visually they look great, and Maker! did an excellent job with its ease of use. If you know what you’re looking for and can find it on Finder!, it literally only takes minutes to create a map similar to what’s seen below.

I specifically sought out datasets that weren’t yet available on Finder! so I can upload them myself and contribute to what’s potentially becoming the source for GIS data. This isn’t just for personal use, I believe Finder! can also be used as a resource for businesses and people who are constantly in need of various data (like myself).

However, a downside – perhaps more of a compliment – is that it almost feels like a web based GIS application. You almost expect it to have more robust functionalities and tools like ESRI’s ArcGIS which can cost thousands of dollars. What if I only wanted to show the top 10 bike commuting cities? Would I need to re-upload another .csv file onto Finder! showing just the top 10? And why can’t I zoom in/out with my mouse scroll? I’m being spoiled here, I want more! If only I can code such things..

All kidding aside, I really enjoy what GeoCommons has put together between Finder! and Maker!. The professional cartography behind all of this has made it difficult for anyone to create an ‘ugly’ map. And for that alone, I thank them. This is definitely a step in the right direction for web mapping.. I only wish I had the idea and the skills to come up with it myself!



Maker! It’s Coming!

by KUMIKO YAMAZAKI on September 30, 2008 • apps geoweb: • COMMENT

It’s the GeoWeb application I’ve been waiting for — Maker!  GISuser has teased us with screenshots of his first test drive with it.  They look great – Google Terrain always helps – but I’m looking forward to some experimentation of my own.

Does it support Macs??  How well does it handle large amounts of data?  Can I embed the map on my own webpage?  In the pop-up info/attribute window, is it possible to only show certain fields or do I need to upload a ‘cleaner’ data set?? Are there any mouseover effects included with Maker!? How much longer do I have to wait?? I need answers : )