Harsh's GIS Blog

Mashup on iPad

Harsh — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:50:44 +0000

OK, so tested Google, Bing, Yahoo, ESRI, Openlayers and MapServer mashups on the iPad, and much like on the iPhone, the slippy drag-and-droll interface doesn’t work. Except for one mashup. Take a guess?

Related: * . . . → Read More: Mashup on iPad

Webinar Series: TECH 101 – Mashups For Planning

Harsh — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:11:23 +0000

TECH 101 – Mashups For Planning View more presentations from gisblog.

Mobile Webinar

Related: * Mash-ups as Planning Tools * GISP and AICP * Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Webinar Series – TECH 101: Mashups for Planning * APA Technology Division: Education * APA Technology Division Webinar . . . → Read More: Webinar Series: TECH 101 – Mashups For Planning

Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Awards for 2010

Harsh — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:48:44 +0000

Category 1: The award for the ‘Best Use of Technology to Improve a Plan or Planning Process’ goes to Marc Schlossberg‘s (University of Oregon) ‘Engaging Citizens in Active Transportation Planning with Mobile GIS‘ for its creative use of technology in improving planning processes.

Category 2: The award for the ‘Best Use of Technology for Public Participation’ goes . . . → Read More: Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Awards for 2010

Interview: “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – It’s Much More Than Google Maps – A Chat With GIS Experts”

Harsh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:27:53 +0000

* Part 1 * Part 2 Interviewed by Carl Williams.

Related: 2009 * Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Webinar Series – TECH 101: Mashups for Planning 2008 * GISP and AICP 2007 * Mash-ups as Planning Tools * Neogeography 101: Word Association * Elite Systems Research Institute, Inc. [ESRI] et al * Google Earth [GE] @ Work 2006 * ESRI Ketchup! * Why do you like Geography? 2005 * A . . . → Read More: Interview: “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – It’s Much More Than Google Maps – A Chat With GIS Experts”

Follow Up [1]: Rural Clusters and Relative Rurality

Harsh — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:23:55 +0000

“Big-City Rush Hour Blues Now Afflict Smaller Cities: 36 hours. That’s the additional time the average U.S. urban traveler spends on the road per year because of rush-hour congestion, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. What’s more, commuters in medium-size cities now face about the same delays that residents of “very large” cities experienced a quarter-century . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Rural Clusters and Relative Rurality

Follow Up [1]: Les Misérables

Harsh — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:13:34 +0000

Top 10 most congested metro areas: 1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA 2 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA 3 Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI 4 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 7 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 8 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH 9 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 10 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Related: * . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Harsh — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:07:13 +0000

America’s 10 Most Miserable Cities 1 Cleveland, Ohio 2 Stockton, Calif. 3 Memphis, Tennessee 4 Detroit, Mich. 5 Flint, Mich. 6 Miami, Fla. 7 St. Louis, Mo. 8 Buffalo, N.Y. 9 Canton, Ohio 10 Chicago, Ill.

Related: * Cost of Living and Higher Education * Rural Clusters and Relative Rurality * Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – . . . → Read More: Les Misérables

Follow Up [2]: Unshared Sacrifice

Harsh — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:48:44 +0000

CO2 emissions per capita: Carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons per capita

Population: Midyear estimates of the resident population

Related: * Total Area: #COUNTRY RANK 1 Russia 1 2 Canada 2 3 United States 3 4 China 4 5 Brazil 5 6 India 7 7 France 43 7 Japan 61 8 Germany 62 9 United Kingdom 79 * Follow Up [1]: Unshared Sacrifice * . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Unshared Sacrifice

Follow Up [1]: A Touch of Play

Harsh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:44:14 +0000

Nearly 6 months after starting work on a Touch mapping project for kiosk deployment running Windows 7 RC on a HP TouchSmart, it sure is good to see touch taking-off. Slowly but surely:

* Gateway One ZX6810-01 * Sony next with Windows 7 multitouch all-in-one

And yes, I used 3rd-party x64 drivers to turn it from single-touch to double-touch.

So . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: A Touch of Play

Follow Up [1]: Technology #Cartoon: Halloween

Harsh — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:55 +0000

Interesting post @ Google Redefines Disruption: The “Less Than Free” . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Technology #Cartoon: Halloween

Technology #Cartoon: Halloween

Harsh — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:39:06 +0000

. . . → Read More: Technology #Cartoon: Halloween

#TeleKinesis

Harsh — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:10:04 +0000

Those investors who are rushing to their brokers for a piece of TeleNav’s IPO (TeleNav GPS Navigator needs extra cash to fight Google Map Navigation, or prep itself for a buyout), note that TeleNav (read LBS) has nothing to do with TeleAtlas of TomTom (read . . . → Read More: #TeleKinesis

Taking Wolfram|Alpha on an Alpha Run

Harsh — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:52:03 +0000

Wolfram|Alpha is an Answer Engine for the scientifically-minded, as opposed to a Search Engine: It takes your query, implied or otherwise, that critical step further by selecting from its list of matches, the one objective description, image etc, and lays them out in context. Not that Google never attempts definitive answers [chord], but when it does, . . . → Read More: Taking Wolfram|Alpha on an Alpha Run

Swine Flu

Harsh — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:57:38 +0000

Selected Influenza A(H1N1) Maps

Related: * . . . → Read More: Swine Flu

Follow Up [1]: Job

Harsh — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:45:45 +0000

We are looking for a Senior Mobile Developer, GIS or otherwise, in the Washington DC Metro. Given the niche, pass it along to qualified professionals or contact me with your . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Job

Backdoor Buyer

Harsh — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:56:30 +0000

Oracle -> Sun -> MySQL

Positioning Timeline

* Oracle buys PeopleSoft (2004) Ending a long-running and bitter battle: “We won’t do any other major mergers ($200 million plus) until it’s clear to us we have integrated this one to our satisfaction.” (Larry Ellison, CEO, Oracle)

* Oracle buys Siebel (2005) Customer Relationship Management: “Oracle becomes CRM applications company.” (Larry Ellison)

* Oracle . . . → Read More: Backdoor Buyer

Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Webinar Series – TECH 101: Mashups for Planning

Harsh — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:30:25 +0000

http://www.planning.org/divisions/tech/education/

http://techdivisionwebinars.eventbrite.com/

Related: * GISP and AICP * Mash-ups as . . . → Read More: Technology Division of the American Planning Association (APA) Webinar Series – TECH 101: Mashups for Planning

A Touch of Play

Harsh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:54:06 +0000

First impressions after testing Microsoft’s Surface Table:

It is a coffee-table sized hardware running Windows Vista and allowing collaborative interaction from up to 4-6 participants. The number of hand-gestures it can recognize is obviously higher than that of a standard touch-screen which can typically handle only a single tap and drag, and maybe multi-touch. On the other . . . → Read More: A Touch of Play

Job

Harsh — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:34:05 +0000

Given the niche, pass it along to qualified professionals or contact me with your resume: “The project objectives are to develop Virtual World applications to study how people acquire, organize and apply information. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Virtual World development, and a demonstrable interest in Social/Bio Sciences . . . → Read More: Job

b2evolution 2 wordpress

Harsh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:22:04 +0000

Well, I have switched from b2evolution to WordPress CMS. And thanks to Apache’s mod_rewrite, I was able to keep all my old links intact. Here’s how:

### wordpress: <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> # basic: RewriteEngine On RewriteBase /gistools/discuss/weblogs/blogs/ # file: RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f # dir: RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule . /gistools/discuss/weblogs/blogs/index.php [L] # [R] Redirect [L] Last rule # post: Options +FollowSymLinks RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} title=([^&]+) RewriteRule ^index\.php /gistools/discuss/weblogs/blogs/%1\.html? [r=301,nc] # archive – monthly:

http://www.spatiallink.org/gistools/discuss/weblogs/blogs/pi.php?m=200807

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} . . . → Read More: b2evolution 2 wordpress

GISP and AICP

Harsh — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 06:36:11 +0000

Although I am still on the fence on GISP given the relative lackluster, what APA has done with AICP‘s CM could give it some shine when it comes to creating a provider ecosystem.

To quickly fill you in: Last year at its Leadership Meetings, APA launched the CM program for AICP. In short, it required professional planners . . . → Read More: GISP and AICP

Our Environment

Harsh — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:00:40 +0000

In reference to PerryGeo’s generosity comments, I have benefited from similar help. And the more I talk about it with other outdoor enthusiasts, the more I feel that that may just be a common trait of those professionals who get to work outdoors, especially the always helpful park service staff. The pace is relaxed, the rhythm . . . → Read More: Our Environment

Google Earth [GE] Hacks

Harsh — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:05:43 +0000

GEMMO is a massively multiplayer online game [MMOG or MMO] for Google Earth that allows you to “explore the world as you collect gold, fight evil monsters and try to collect the crystals that are guarded in major cities [19 so far] across the planet” without any additional software to download. Given the gathering whispers of . . . → Read More: Google Earth [GE] Hacks

Follow Up [2]: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

Harsh — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:34:10 +0000

Quotes from the recent Net Neutrality Hearings:

David L. Cohen, Vice-President, Comcast- ‘…on a “very limited basis” Comcast was delaying traffic in limited areas when there is heavy traffic.’”Don’t let the rhetoric of some of the critics scare you- there is nothing wrong with network management. Every network is managed.”

Tim Wu, Professor, Columbia Law School- “I have . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

2008

Harsh — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:35:49 +0000

I started the year with this ‘Time Management‘ video by Randy Pausch. You may know him from ‘The Last Lecture‘. His introduction is by Gabe- my website mentor at UVA Computer Science Web Team. A must-watch if you haven’t already.

– π

Related: • 2007 • The Legacy of . . . → Read More: 2008

Follow Up [1]: The Power of Ten

Harsh — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:20:55 +0000

• Medium Maximization: “A medium, for example, points or money, is a token people receive as the immediate reward of their effort. It has no value in and of itself, but it can be traded for a desired outcome. Experiments demonstrate that, when people are faced with options entailing different outcomes, the presence of a medium . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: The Power of Ten

The Power of Ten

Harsh — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:16:59 +0000

1,000 CONTACTS > 100 VISITORS > 10 SIGN-UPS > 1 ACTIVE USER

– π

Related: “It is claimed that a satisfied customer tells an average of three people about a product or service he/she likes, and eleven people about a product or service which he/she did not like [Silverman, George. Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing. 2001]. Viral . . . → Read More: The Power of Ten

Mash-ups as Planning Tools

Harsh — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:39:41 +0000

Planning departments, especially those of smaller cities, have long hesitated because of technology, budgetary and other constraints to engage their constituents through web-based mapping tools. Part of the reason is simply an uneasiness with Web 2.0-esque mapping technologies.

Well, these days they have less to worry about. That is, if they don’t mind piggy-backing on corporate giants.

Recently, . . . → Read More: Mash-ups as Planning Tools

Follow Up [1]: Unshared Sacrifice

Harsh — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:36:28 +0000

BBC News | Special Reports: “Weather disasters ‘getting worse’”

Related: Unshared . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Unshared Sacrifice

Why Contribute

Harsh — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:07:43 +0000

Paul Ramsey points to Danny de Vries‘s take on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial [FOSS4G] 2007:

“What we saw was a young and passionate movement not-so-subtly showcasing their dedication for open-source as a tool by which to challenge corporate, or closed-source, IT monopolies in the geospatial domain.”

I want to underline the ‘showcasing’ part. It is . . . → Read More: Why Contribute

Follow Up [1]: Never the Twain Shall Meet

Harsh — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:30:44 +0000

What if Gmail Had Been Designed by Microsoft? If Microsoft packaged the iPod…

Related: Never the Twain . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Never the Twain Shall Meet

Mobile Browsers

Harsh — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:22:03 +0000

As the Google-backed Open Handset Alliance takes shape, I have been testing dominant WAP browsers on my 2-year old touchscreen PocketPC. This resulting post should narrow down the choices for those who follow:

Deep Fish by Microsoft appears to be the most promising of the lot. Unfortunately, it is in a strict testing phase and no . . . → Read More: Mobile Browsers

A Tale of Two Languages

Harsh — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:36:17 +0000

Try this page to compare Ruby‘s and Python‘s language elegance side-by-side. Spoiler Warning: There is a winner! To get you started: Ruby – string.method ["String".reverse or "String".length] Python – string[slice] or function(string) ["String"[::-1] or len(“String”)] –π

Related: Python Interpreter ASP Cold Fusion JSP Perl [ActivePerl] [ActivePython] PHP Tcl [ActiveTcl] A Tale of . . . → Read More: A Tale of Two Languages

MapServer’s Claim to Fame?

Harsh — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 05:46:47 +0000

I was a little surprised to find MapServer listed on Nessus- the network vulnerability scanner website chugging along on Apache/PHP: Its mention points to greater usage than earlier anticipated. So if even AGG- its Google-esque 5.0 rendering backend is not enough, here‘s another reason for -4.10.3 users to upgrade:

Synopsis: The remote web server contains CGI scripts that . . . → Read More: MapServer’s Claim to Fame?

Neogeography 101: Word Association

Harsh — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:30:07 +0000

Question: ‘Genre Books’ is to ‘Writer’ as ‘Web Maps’ is to …?

Choices: [a] iPhone [...since the buzz is about it- the Paris Hilton of the technorati] [b] Paris Hilton [...since the buzz is about her- the iPhone of the glitterati] [c] Geographer [...since ESRI Press said so] [d] Programmer/Developer

Answer: If you answered [c], you have spent a lot of . . . → Read More: Neogeography 101: Word Association

Follow Up [1]: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

Harsh — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:30:30 +0000

Bush Official Goes Nuclear in Net Neut Row. The Register. 2007

Related: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell Network Neutrality Network Neutrality in . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

Technology Leaders and Political Bent, 2007

Harsh — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 05:30:06 +0000

Unshared Sacrifice

Harsh — Sun, 27 May 2007 19:45:55 +0000

Source: The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies [IES], University of Wisconsin at Madison

Related: Climate Shift Tied To 150,000 Fatalities. Washington Post. 2005 United Nations Environment Program [UNEP] Climate, The Earth Institute, Columbia University Global Warming, New York Times [NYT] Climate Analysis Indicators Tool [CAIT] The Pew Center on Global Climate Change Climate Change Climate and Radiation Branch, . . . → Read More: Unshared Sacrifice

Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

Harsh — Mon, 14 May 2007 06:05:08 +0000

–π

Related: [my comment] The Coming Internet Traffic Jam: “…argument on government legislation. It is a false argument that some proponents of non-neutrality wish to spread. Surely, in this age of war-profiteers turning in record-breaking quarters, loose monopolies of mergers and bundles, debatable price gouging etc, it is a little naive to want to believe that all the . . . → Read More: Debating Net Neutrality: A Nutshell

My Pick of FOSS4G 2007 Presentation Submissions

Harsh — Sat, 05 May 2007 18:12:48 +0000

An impressive summary of presentations, but my professional favorite would be ‘IBM DB2 Express-C: A Free Database for Open Source Spatial and XML Development’. Although something tells me that something else might be the crowd favorite.

On DB2 Express-C: It went free soon after its counter-weights Oracle XE and SQL Server XE last year, but its press . . . → Read More: My Pick of FOSS4G 2007 Presentation Submissions

Elite Systems Research Institute, Inc. [ESRI] et al

Harsh — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:49:12 +0000

This GCN article titled ‘Geospatial and the elite: Old-school geographic information systems still dig deep on mapping and analyses’ points to a tortuous debate within the traditional GIS industry, and the new industry push to remodel itself as solely an “enterprise class” industry while it continues to loose ground to an increasing domestication or democratization of . . . → Read More: Elite Systems Research Institute, Inc. [ESRI] et al

Cost of Living and Higher Education

Harsh — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:55:57 +0000

As I returned from the American Planning Association‘s 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia, I rummaged through some past papers and chanced upon an offer letter that I have been unable to let go of.

Thomas Jefferson or William Penn?

When I look back to why I chose UVA over UPenn, the cost of living at Charlottesville v. . . . → Read More: Cost of Living and Higher Education

Rural Clusters and Relative Rurality

Harsh — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 05:03:23 +0000

The US Economic Development Administration [EDA], in conjunction with the State of Indiana, has recently released an interesting research titled “The Role of Regional Clusters: Unlocking Rural Competitiveness” [2007] on the benefits of regionalism in rural America.

One of the primary objectives of this research is to help rural America find its competitive edge in our rapidly . . . → Read More: Rural Clusters and Relative Rurality

Google Earth [GE] @ Work

Harsh — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:17:27 +0000

This week I had the opportunity to listen to the Google Guys. Having earlier missed a similar opportunity for Jack Dangermond due to schedule conflicts, I made sure I was present at this seminar.

On display were the GE Enterprise solutions- Fusion, Server and Enterprise Client. With GE Enterprise, you can sign into multiple servers, grab the . . . → Read More: Google Earth [GE] @ Work

2006

Harsh — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:05:40 +0000

Here are four “events” from 2006 that I consider as evolutionary milestones of our burgeoning SIS industry:

E2- ESRI finally catches up to GE. Almost Virtual Earth- Microsoft adds the ability to add and save shapes, and browser-based GE-esque 3D views GE- Google gulps SketchUp and consolidates GE’s usergroups by jumping head-first in collaborations Spatial Web . . . → Read More: 2006

Follow Up [5]: Katrina Links

Harsh — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:30:48 +0000

Former senator Stafford of Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, familiar to anyone requesting, managing and mapping disaster grants under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program [HMGP] AKA Buyout Program, dies at 93.

–π

Related: Pre-Disaster Mitigation [PDM] Grant . . . → Read More: Follow Up [5]: Katrina Links

Follow Up [1]: ESRI Ketchup!

Harsh — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:01:46 +0000

Following on the heels of E2, Google recently consolidated GE’s usergroups through some interesting collaborations with Wikipedia and Panoramio. These follow earlier deals with UNEP, NASA, USGS, ESA, Discovery, National Geographic et al.

These steps slowly push one other software- ESRI’s ArcGlobe, part of the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension, further away from all that is important. ArcGlobe . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: ESRI Ketchup!

Follow Up [4]: Katrina Links

Harsh — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:27:36 +0000

“FEMA Told to Resume Storm Aid”

Related: Blogs about this article “Katrina Victims in Limbo as FEMA Appeals Aid Order” Government Accountability Office [GAO] Report: Abstract- Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Disaster Relief. Continued Findings of Fraud, Waste and Abuse. GAO-07-252T. December 6, 2006 Video: Reactions from the Grassroots- Effects of Flood Map Modernization [Map Mod] Program’s Digital . . . → Read More: Follow Up [4]: Katrina Links

ESRI Ketchup!

Harsh — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:04:33 +0000

After months of wild speculations and foot-dragging, ESRI finally released ArcGIS Explorer- twice as big as Google Earth and a shade shy. Here is why:

Google Earth [googleearth.exe] + Searches better - Does not offer native support for popular spatial data types

ESRI ArcGIS Explorer [E2.exe] + Offers native support for popular spatial data types - Clunkier navigation and interface

Both show comparable spatial data displays . . . → Read More: ESRI Ketchup!

Interview: Ric Stephens, Immediate Past Editor, Technology Division of the American Planning Association [APA]

Harsh — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:03:48 +0000

As the Secretary/Treasurer of the Technology Division of APA, I recently had the opportunity to interview Ric Stephens, our Immediate Past Editor:

π: So what got you into planning and publishing/editing? Ric: I worked as a cartographer/German language translator for USAID during college and was hired by a civil engineering firm to prepare maps during summer break.

After . . . → Read More: Interview: Ric Stephens, Immediate Past Editor, Technology Division of the American Planning Association [APA]

Why do you like Geography?

Harsh — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:09:09 +0000

Here’s one of many reasons:

“… And then the strange people of Asia- the Tartars, who are such splendid horsemen; the Arabs, who travel over the deserts upon camels, and at night stop and tell stories to each other; and the Hindoos, who burn their widows and drown their children, thinking these things are pleasing to God; . . . → Read More: Why do you like Geography?

Follow Up [3]: Katrina Links

Harsh — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:11:14 +0000

“Storm Surge Is Flood, Judge Says”

Related: Blogs about this . . . → Read More: Follow Up [3]: Katrina Links

International Outreach

Harsh — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:09:01 +0000

One of the pleasures of my current job is the annual opportunity to interact with professionals from around the world, thanks to the International Visitor Leadership Program. During these interactions, I share with the visiting delegations how regional government works in West Virginia. Mayoral Delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan, 2006 Public and Private Sector Delegation from the . . . → Read More: International Outreach

Follow Up [2]: Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Harsh — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 01:17:03 +0000

According to TheStree.com, American Online recently bought Truveo. Note that this was predicted by Technology . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Follow Up [1]: Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Harsh — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:04:52 +0000

More crystal ball gazing:

A tough year ahead for Sony ["fate deserved, although XBox would probably hurt more"] AJAX cleans up the Web ["impressive"] Cracks appear in Apples iTunes shiny armor ["would take more, but also refer to hymn"] Telco companies get ensnared in a domestic eavesdropping scandal ["a very tight-rope"] A video search company is . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Harsh — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 01:30:30 +0000

1. First there were WiFi hotspots, then hot zones ["even more so"] 2. Cell phones do everything ["right-on"] 3. Internet phone calls become more popular now that major Web companies are making it easier ["about time"] 4. The [MS] Office moves to the Web. Documents, e-mail and spreadsheets move off your desktop computer to the Web ["about time"] 5. Stem-cell . . . → Read More: Top 10 Technology Trends for 2006 ["comment"]

Follow Up [4]: Graphic Software

Harsh — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 01:00:57 +0000

Yet more evidence of acceptance of Google Maps and through it, of spatial relevance, by established publications:

A Guide to Commuting and Readers’ Stories How Much Is Gas In Jersey?

In a related development, Microsoft continues to play catch-up with Google by acquiring GeoTango. However, with its “3D Internet Visualization- a truly open and web services-oriented solution”, . . . → Read More: Follow Up [4]: Graphic Software

Brain Hypnosis

Harsh — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 02:10:10 +0000

An intriguing article that may help those interested in best meeting project expectations in a team-setting. Here is my take on that- for rewards, it is often best if expectations are lower than the actual; for punishments, it is often best if expectations are higher than the actual; so that in both cases, the resulting momentum . . . → Read More: Brain Hypnosis

Follow Up [1]: Memorandum Excerpt, Alleged

Harsh — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 02:01:32 +0000

“Building a Better Boom

… The Internet is exciting again, and once again folks are rushing in. In some categories – like search or social networking, for example – there are scores of start-ups vying for pretty much the same market, and it’s certain that, just like last time, most of them will fail.

But regardless of all . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Memorandum Excerpt, Alleged

Memorandum Excerpt, Alleged: Internet Software Services

Harsh — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 02:34:43 +0000

From: Bill Gates Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2005 9:56 PM To: Executive Staff and Direct Reports; Distinguished Engineers Subject: Internet Software Services

“… Ten years ago this December, I wrote a memo entitled The Internet Tidal Wave which described how the internet was going to forever change the landscape of computing… Five years ago we focused our strategy on .NET . . . → Read More: Memorandum Excerpt, Alleged: Internet Software Services

Links

Harsh — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 01:02:02 +0000

It’s time to move these to del.icio.us:

http://labs.google.com/ Google’s showcase http://next.yahoo.com/ Yahoo’s showcase http://research.microsoft.com/ Microsoft Research

http://geoportal.kgs.ku.edu/googlemaps/ks_gm.cfm SDE+GMap http://traffic.poly9.com/ Traffic, weather and news glues for Google Maps

http://opensource.nokia.com/ Nokia in opensource WAP

http://www.webstyleguide.com/ Web style guide http://jibbering.com/faq/ comp.lang.javascript FAQ

http://robin.sourceforge.net/ Browser-based desktop http://www.writely.com/ Browser-based word processor http://www.ktdms.com/ Document management system http://www.openfiler.org/ Browser-based network storage software . . . → Read More: Links

Follow Up [3]: Graphic Software

Harsh — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 01:32:48 +0000

This week Yahoo released its own take on online mapping. Its new service includes both Flash and AJAX APIs coupled with the ability to geocode.

If you think about it, sooner or later this had to happen- developers finally mustering the courage to embrace arty Macromedia Flash for distributing spatial information in a big way, like Geocentric. . . . → Read More: Follow Up [3]: Graphic Software

Norm

Harsh — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 01:27:21 +0000

Related: * Norman . . . → Read More: Norm

Follow Up [2]: Katrina Links

Harsh — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 02:09:28 +0000

“Rethinking Flood Insurance” [09/21/2005]: A timely but poorly-researched editorial in The Washington Post on the levee problems plaguing the National Flood Insurance Program.

As much as some may cringe to what they see as their tax-dollars being spent on bail out, the often-omitted fact remains that many New Orleanians were not required by the National Flood Insurance . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Katrina Links

Follow Up [1]: Katrina Links

Harsh — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 02:44:13 +0000

WIKI Red Cross: Family Links Registry Lycos: Missing Persons Search Housing Information Gateway Shelter Map Information Map ESRI: Katrina Disaster Viewer Google Earth: Imagery NYT: Draining New Orleans Map Contact: Mitigation Planners and Substantial Damage Assessors

Expounding on my earlier post on this disaster management and planning, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 had laid down . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Katrina Links

Katrina Links

Harsh — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 02:30:12 +0000

Katrina Craigslist: Lost and Found- New Orleans LA, Baton Rouge LA

While on this disaster as one watches events unfold, it becomes clear that an infuriating management style marked by a “hands-off” approach that is prone to making excuses for ignored red flags can only get rewarded for ideological and rhetorical reasons rather than merit. And . . . → Read More: Katrina Links

Never the Twain Shall Meet

Harsh — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:37:36 +0000

On the eve of the launch of Virtual Earth, as Microsoft plays catch-up with Google‘s high-rate of innovation, here’s a transcript of some tete-a-tete:

[Sometime before 2000] Bill Gates: Now that we are in the email business with Hotmail, we need to think of ways to fatten the bottom-line. Steve Ballmer: Online marketing is the way to go Bill! . . . → Read More: Never the Twain Shall Meet

WIKI: Edit Lock Schema

Harsh — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 02:34:29 +0000

Now that I would update the DFIRM WIKI more frequently, I added a lock this past weekend to prevent simultaneous editing. And after being hit by abuse through automated comments, basic verification was also added while still allowing relatively hassle-free editing. At some point, I may submit these improvements back . . . → Read More: WIKI: Edit Lock Schema

A Rose by Any Other Name

Harsh — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 02:04:41 +0000

The definition of GIS has evolved from ‘Geographic Information System’ to ‘Geospatial Information System’. It is time that it takes the next logical step to ‘Spatial Information System’. My earlier post wrestled, well not quiet, for a truer understanding of “GIS” given the advent of non-traditional spatial software. Since then I have been convinced that spatial . . . → Read More: A Rose by Any Other Name

Declaration of Interdependence

Harsh — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 01:33:58 +0000

“As we become aware of the ethical implications of design, not only with respect to buildings, but in every aspect of human endeavour, they reflect changes in the historical concept of who or what has rights. When you study the history of rights, you begin with the Magna Carta which was about the rights of white, . . . → Read More: Declaration of Interdependence

Follow Up [2]: Map Viewer and Google

Harsh — Sat, 28 May 2005 01:40:41 +0000

Website Post Hacks Follow Up [1]: Map Viewer . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Map Viewer and Google

Follow Up [1]: Wireless Application Protocol

Harsh — Fri, 20 May 2005 01:54:26 +0000

dodgeball: Mobile Social Software Place Lab: Privacy Observant Location System !Cellphedia: Ubiquitous Social Encyclopedia Wireless Application Protocol Technology Provider for WV . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Wireless Application Protocol

Half-life of a Webpage

Harsh — Mon, 09 May 2005 05:55:33 +0000

The primary objective of this blog is to mull over industry trends and abstract ideas relevant to the profession, not to regurgitate “operational details”. However, this post may bend that rule.

For those not in the know, a webpage does a lot of behind-the-scene work before it spits-out text on the screen. Here’s a summary of what . . . → Read More: Half-life of a Webpage

Follow Up [2]: Graphic Software

Harsh — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 01:01:04 +0000

Two companies whose product GUI I enjoy interfacing with- Adobe and Macromedia, announced their merger earlier this month.

Both their flagship products have become industry-standards in exchanging documents and creating experience-rich applications across platforms. The largely unused spatial potential within Macromedia Flash combined with the increasingly widespread use of Adobe PDF/SVG maps and the sprouting of some . . . → Read More: Follow Up [2]: Graphic Software

Follow Up [1]: Map Viewer and Google

Harsh — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 02:29:12 +0000

A quick note on the happenings at Google: Yesterday, Google added satellite imagery to its mapping. For speedy displays, 256px*256px JPEG image-tiles scanned at different zoom-levels and each weighing around 30 KB, coupled with some nifty AJAX come handy.

Such a drag-and-drool tiling paradigm, although practised for some time now by website developers to load large images, . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Map Viewer and Google

Follow Up [1]: Graphic Software

Harsh — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 01:02:02 +0000

It is good to know that some professionals concur with the views expressed in my earlier post on the potential for graphic software, like Macromedia Flash. One comment links to an impressive demonstration of this largely . . . → Read More: Follow Up [1]: Graphic Software

Tech One

Harsh — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 05:12:41 +0000

My pick of technology-related headlines from The New York Times Page One 1851-2002:

[10/18/1907] Signalizing the opening of the Marconi Service to the public, and conveying a message of congratulation from Privy Councillor Baron Avebury, formerly Sir John Lubbock [01/08/1927] Opening new radiophone service; First private call to The New York Times [10/05/1957] The Naval Research . . . → Read More: Tech One

Making Public Policy: A Nutshell

Harsh — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 02:44:49 +0000

Nutshell: “‘Substituting tax-increase with state lottery’ [Policy - Director/Manager/Planner] as a means to generate additional revenue. Here, it becomes important to first find the ‘percentage of non-gamblers/gamblers/disinterested in the effected constituency’ [Information - Spatial Analyst] because ‘opposition to such a move is more likely to come from non-gamblers’ [Theory - Planner]“.

Nutshell adapted from [Skinner, B. Beyond . . . → Read More: Making Public Policy: A Nutshell

Population π

Harsh — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 02:36:21 +0000

Below is a simple inquiry into how natural check could kick-in from a market stand-point to curtail a growing population. Although, a more interesting inquiry would have been “when” would it kick-in?

First, a sample population was divided into 3 basic groups- consumers, laborers and producers. Then the general effect of each on the other because of . . . → Read More: Population π

Tsunami Links

Harsh — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 01:10:32 +0000

NOAA: Tsunami Research Program NOAA: Tsunami Animation USGS: Natural Hazards Support System USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program UN News Center: Tsunami UN Map: “Serving the Information Needs” Tsunami Homepage IASC: Humanitarian Early Warning Service Nature: Photographs BBC: Asia Quake Disaster ESRI Pressroom: Indian Ocean Disaster Penn State: World Data . . . → Read More: Tsunami Links

Wanted: Proactive Policies

Harsh — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 01:40:40 +0000

What is the most effective method to spread the digital wave, especially of the spatial kind, in rural communities and developing countries? The following links offer some fodder, although Korea left the company of developing nations some time ago. A lot of talk has centered around the potential of wireless to bridge the digital chasm between . . . → Read More: Wanted: Proactive Policies

Graphic Software

Harsh — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 02:35:57 +0000

The discussion “So …How About That Election Coverage?” at Directions Magazine makes you think about graphic software, like Macromedia Flash, that cater to small-time spatial needs.

Such graphic software, minus the topology and advanced query benefits, function well as basic spatial tools and comfortably serve data over the web with a “fair” amount of interactivity.

Does this make . . . → Read More: Graphic Software

Wireless Application Protocol

Harsh — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 02:30:10 +0000

As the year-end inches closer, let us look at one significant industry trend: A potential increase in location-based wireless services ["Where are my kids ...no really, WHERE are my kids ...and give me that in Lat/Long"]? This could be brought about by a spread of handy ‘location-aware’ productivity tools, such as a GPS-enabled internet-ready Blackberry phone that . . . → Read More: Wireless Application Protocol

Social Software

Harsh — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 02:02:20 +0000

Interesting blog on Life With Alacrity about Social Software. For the ignoramus, crudely put Social Software or Groupware or Collaborative Software is software that facilitates group interaction. Often, there is “no overt coordination with the group functioning as an aggregation of interested individuals” rather than as a cohesive unit.

Two intriguing perspectives on the internet from the . . . → Read More: Social Software

Map Viewer and Google

Harsh — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:15:00 +0000

Interesting web-based map viewer- very snazzy. Now only if the download was quicker.

In related news, Google acquires Keyhole: a company promising a similar 3D interface. Right now, if you google an address, Google provides links to its 2D maps from Yahoo!Maps and MapQuest. Google also provides possible address matches and map links if you type in . . . → Read More: Map Viewer and Google