Mo’ Nifty

Some super nifty stuff appeared on my radar today.

http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/04/getting-from-to-b-with-street-view.html
Google integrates StreetView (360 degree street level imagery) with directions so you can actually see the entire route before going. They talk up the possibilities of checking toll pricing, parking signs and road pothole conditions which seems a little far-fetched even to me, but cool to know that it is possible.

Europe’s Galileo Project
On April 28 Europe successfully launched the 2nd satellite in their global navigation satellite system. Galileo will be a (compatible) competitor to the existing US controlled system. It won’t be fully operation until at least 2013 but will offer free positioning with down to 1m accuracy (it’s 5m on the US system) and a premium service with accuracy on the cm scale. Another big advantage over the current system is that it can receive distress beacons to alert the rescue coordination centre and provide feedback to the user that help is on its way. Galileo will offer faster fixes on the satellites and greater penetration into urban centres.

What does all this mean? It’s getting easier and easier to find everything!

Copy to New

Zenbu is probably at its tastiest when you want to find the nearest store of a chain. The nearest Starbucks, the nearest Noel Leemings, the nearest ASB ATM, whatever. But… chain stores close and open all the time. To help our intrepid army of users (“Zenbu-ers” ?) who help maintain the information on Zenbu, there is now a new link on each entries page, above the map, [Copy to New].

If you find that a new chain store is missing from Zenbu you can click on this link from any of the other stores and this will create a new entry with the same name, website, tags and phone number (if it looks like a toll free nationwide number). Just add in the address, edit the name if necessary and submit. Boom!

I was trying to find my nearest Rebel Sports store to get down to their $50 shoe sale on the weekend and found that Zenbu was missing a few locations. I used the Copy to New function to sort that out quicksmart. The sale is over but you can still find your nearest Rebel Sports store anytime!

Augmented Reality

It’s fun when you can see the pieces of the puzzle all falling together. I read this post about the emerging technolgy trend of Augmented Reality. The idea is that by combining image recognition with GPS user location information, your mobile phone can overlay information about what you’re looking at on your screen. Nifty.

Days later, Google announces a partnership with Trulia for navigating online real estate search using their Google Street View technology. An Augmented Reality without even needing to be there in the first place. Nifty.

Virtual Tourism through Google Earth is a rising trend as is Virtual Commuting. Pretty soon, we may not have to leave the house at all (except maybe to convert that neon glow tan into a real one)