Sunverse.net

Google Map in Second Life

UK virtual world consultants, Daden Limited have created an amazing build in Second Life that directly leverages Google Maps content. The visuals say it all:

The NPIRL and Digital Urban blogs have more info as well.

With multiple mirror worlds in development and work like this being done, can you imagine how interesting booking a holiday is going to be in coming years?

Birmingham Mash-Up

Birmingham Mash-Up: UK City Displayed As Scale Second Life Model With Google Earth API

After a long absence spent hosting the NPIRL Garden, Bettina Tizzy is back to blogging, and she has a marvelous find:  created by Daden Limited for the Birmingham City Council, it's a scale recreation of the British city in Second Life using a Google Earth API, with geo-coded news tags that look like red pushpins.  As with many of Daden's inventions (as blogged here and here), the practical applications aren't immediately obvious, but the ROA (for Return on Awesome, as Jerry Paffendorf calls it) remains high.  Read Bettina's take here.

After a long absence spent hosting the NPIRL Garden, Bettina Tizzy is back to blogging, and she has a marvelous find:  created by Daden Limited for the Birmingham City Council, it's a scale recreation of the British city in Second Life using a Google Earth API, with geo-coded news tags that look like red pushpins.  As with many of Daden's inventions (as blogged here and here), the practical applications aren't immediately obvious, but the ROA (for Return on Awesome, as Jerry Paffendorf calls it) remains high.  Read Bettina's take here.

Geo-ify Your Web Site

Geo-ify Your Web Site - http://blip.tv/file/965904

Learn about Mapstraction—the API that abstracts mapping services—and how it can be used by your business or day-to-day geohacking. Are you worried that Google might put adverts on their maps? Noticed that Microsoft Virtual Earth has better aerial imagery? Don’t get locked in!

Mapstraction floats on top of niine APIs: Microsoft VE, Google, Yahoo!, MultiMap, Poly9 FreeEarth, Map24, MapQuest, and OpenStreetMap. Each one has different features and qualities of aerial and mapping data, and your use may depend on area of interest (who has the best aerial imagery in Bangalore?) or features (can I plot GeoRSS?).

With Mapstraction you can make these decisions on the fly and not get locked into one specific API. We’ll tour adding simple maps, pins, and geocoding. Plotting GeoRSS and switching APIs on the fly. Some JavaScript knowledge is preferable but not an absolute necessity.

Virtual Visits To Where Dreams Come True (No, It’s Not Neverland)

by Kristen Nicole —

Google Earth map layers come in handy for a number of reasons, depending on your needs–from weather reports to virtual replicas of a particular area, these layers can be applied to a Google Earth map in order to create a more complete geographical perspective.

I’ve never been the type to take the time to use Google’s 3D image and object options for the creation of replicas of various locations–I’d rather look at someone else’s. One company that has seemingly put an obscene amount of time into the creation of a virtual map replica is Disney. What better way to lure you into a summer vacation at the Magic Kingdom?

Disney World’s new Google EarthGoogle Earth map features 3D models and KML layers, highlighting everything from the iconic monorail to the park benches. Disney has included videos and Flash animations as well. Leave it to Disney to create a magical Google map experience. The areas that are featured on the new map layer include all four Theme Parks and over 20 Disney Resort hotels–from Spaceship Earth to Main Street, USA.

So will we be seeing more branding opportunities for physical locations through the use of Google Earth map layers? I could see a greater potential towards this end if Google Earth were more readily available through the web browser and didn’t require a download for something like viewing the 3D Disney World. In the specific use of travel-planning, such branding opportunities could be viable for integrated mapping and itinerary creation for Disney and other planning sites as well.