Friday, October 24, 2008

Friday Fun With Google Maps

XKCD - Working for Google Maps
I know regular readers of this blog will have been wondering how Mike has been fairing since he gave up Google Maps Mania to work for the Google Maps team. It looks like the guys at XKCD are planning to keep us informed:



Google Sailing Directions c15th Century
Gizmodo found this old print out of Google Maps Sailing Directions from the fifteenth century. The directions are for Christopher Columbus' voyage from Spain to India.

Unfortunately in the fifteenth century Google Maps had problems calculating directions that avoided the edge of the world. Google does give sailors ample warnings that they are approaching the depths of the unknown. For example, in this print out, after turning left at the Terrible Kraken the next five steps in the directions are all warning of the approaching abyss.

Via: Gizmodo

Street View of the Week


This mechanical elephant in Nantes is 12 meters high and made from 45 tons of wood and steel. It can take up to 49 passengers for a 45-minute walk. Some of you may recognise the elephant as it is a replica of The Sultan's Elephant which toured the world from 2005 to 2007.

Via: Google Sightseeing

Google Maps in the News

The BBC are working with CASA on two geographic surveys. One of the maps even made it onto television. One of the surveys if about a proposed car congestion charge in Manchester. The other is a Credit Crunch Survey.

Via: Digital Urban

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