GeoRel - Could we make this a new standard?

Has anyone ever thought to re-purpose the rel attribute in HTML and RSS to contain Geo data?

On face value, rel = relationship and placing lat lng inside the rel attribute relates the content spatially.

Now browsers and RSS readers can simply show links based on their distance order from the reader. Using this with a location service (FireEagle, etc), the browser/reader could assess relevance and relationship geographically.

The main advantages are easy and lightweight representation of geospatial relationships in the semantic web. Should be both machine and human readable.

It could support existing formats - Simple GeoRSS, Latitude and Longitude, KML (provide link to KML file)

Here are some link examples below based on Mapicurious data. Look at properties for each link to see the "rel" tag in use.

1. Basic Lat Lng (lat lng separated by space and pairs by comma for paths and polygons)

California Football Players 2006
Chick-Fil-A in Southern California
Hof's Hut - Southern California Tradition

2. L:

California Football Players 2006
Hof's Hut - Southern California Tradition

3. Geohash

California Football Players 2006
Chick-Fil-A in Southern California
Hof's Hut - Southern California Tradition

4. Georeference:

California Football Players 2006
Chick-Fil-A in Southern California
Hof's Hut - Southern California Tradition



Simple Use Cases:

Mapping web site - Overlay links directly on a map based on GeoRel data. Show geographically relevant links to map content to user, based on user's location (including distance calculations).

News site - Arrange links based on geospatial relevance.

RSS Reader - Filter links to content based on location from reader.

Mapicurious on Your Blackberry?

That's correct! Through our friends at Where.com, you can access Mapicurious to search for points around you and add points directly to your map.

Follow the steps outline on our Blackberry page.

Thanks,

Maps

Mapicurious on Qik

Qik.com allows you to stream video live to the web from the cell phone. Look for field reports on the Mapicurious Qik channel.

Thanks,

Maps

Mapicurious on Dash Navigation

Finally a GPS company allows information maintained on the Internet to be exchanged with their GPS device in real time. This inexpensive automobile GPS has Internet search features, traffic routing, and Mapicurious content streaming live from the Mapicurious.com site.

For more information, and to get yours: http://www.dash.net

Thanks,

Maps

Follow Mapicurious on Twitter

If you have not heard of Twitter and you own a cell phone, here is your chance.

Twitter is a web and short message service that allows registered users to broadcast a single text message to a large group of individuals. Users "follow" each other to be kept up-to-date on the news about that person.

CNN and the Presidential candidates all use this service to quickly alert their constituents.

Register at http://www.twitter.com and follow Mapicurious - http://www.twitter.com/mapicurious

Thanks,

Maps

Looking For Corporate Museums

Where are the corporate museums and factory tours. Sometimes you get some free stuff. Use the Add A Point to let Mapicurious.com know!

Thanks,

Maps

What for 2010?

I recently combed through a notepad (physical not Windows) where I collected important information in the early 1990s. I developed a habit of writing companies or topics of interest in the margin, and a quick note of why it was interesting. Eventually I might get around to "discovering" additional information, but otherwise it remained invisible until my recent discovery, unless I happened to run across the company's location in the physical world.

Along with the 1990s notepad, I found another from 2000 or 2001 with websites scribbled on the side. I checked those out back then, added them to my bookmarks, and am surprised to see ones I still use today. Back then if you didn't have a web presence, you didn't exist to a large group of people.

As technology has deepened our lives to such a point, there are numerous opportunities to cross over the web space in to the physical space.

Since I've been working with geospatial, I'm curious on what will happen for 2010?

For Mapicurious I think it safe to say - if you don't exist properly in either my auto's GPS, my handheld GPS, or my cellphone GPS - I probably will not find you.

That means this is the time to get your business georeferenced.

- Maps