The U.S. Patent was issued on Nov. 23 (No. 7,840,350). The inventor is Thomas Spinelli, Northport, N.Y.
Abstract:
A method for electronically generating driving directions from a starting location to an ending location. The method including: indicating the ending location; indicating one or more preferences for the directions to include less than all steps that would otherwise be generated if not for the one or more preferences; and generating driving directions based on the starting location, ending location, and one or more preferences.
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/30 at 07:23 AM |
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Google Earth V6 is out. It has 3D trees “species-accurate but not necessarily individual-tree-accurate” per the Map Room.
- download
- Google Earth Blog
The Santa Rosa Democrat used Google Earth (likely V5) to locate a 2.6 magnitude earthquake on Nov 29 under the playground at the Middle School.
- SR Democrat
All Things D (WSJ) reports: “According to sources close to the situation, Google has offered $5.3 billion for Groupon, in what would be its largest acquisition yet if completed.”
- All Things D
Google announced at Web 2.0 Summit that near field communications (NFC) support would be in the next iteration of Android. It’s a local sensor type tool that could be used to fight credit card fraud (you are where the transaction is) or check in fraud (you are not lying to Foursquare about being in Starbucks).
- Technorati
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/30 at 07:17 AM |
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The organization’s letter to The Honorable P. Michele Ellison, Bureau Chief of the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) includes references to the investigations into Google’s StreetView data capture and the content of a proposed privacy bill (HR 5777). The letter is dated Nov 12, 2010.
- pdf of letter
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/29 at 11:50 AM |
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Rwanda
The National University of Rwanda surveying geospatial data users in the country to determine their needed datasets and vision for data sharing. The results in summary:
The three datasets most sought after are fundamental datasets. These are administrative boundaries data accounting for 25% of all spatial datasets used, topographic maps (15%) and orthophotos (14%). Free access to spatial data in Rwanda is the most supported option among organisations using geospatial technology (60%). The major barrier to spatial data sharing identified is the lack of a national spatial data policy especially, the need for a spatial data sharing policy in organizations.
- UN SPIDER
Fiji
Should Fiji share its geodata? Pemanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimone seems to suggest that fees are appropriate. PSI refers to the Public Sector Information, that used for government projects.
“But will the public sector forego the charging issues when its public knowledge in Fiji and the world over that we cannot even curb piracy in movies,” he said.
“What guarantee there is that PSI can be used by some including non-citizens of this country who do not pay taxes for commercial gains.
“I understand that some government ministries are charging transaction costs through agreement licenses but I guess the question remains is whether all geospatial experts should have access to any data and does standardisation only means compatibility without costs.”
I’m not sure I follow the movie piracy comparison.
- Fiji Times
Nepal
Nepal’s Central Bureau of Statistics has decided to not use GPS to (CBS) in its first ever post-war census. Lack of funding and finding staffers to use the technology underlie the decision. A dress rehearsal revealed the challenges.
- MyRepublca.com
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/29 at 08:23 AM |
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If Google does not have the appropriate license to run its mapping sites in China by July 1, 2011, the government states it willl investigate and prosecute the company. There are no details on what penalties might be applied. Microsoft is currently applying for licenses.
- Computerworld
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/29 at 08:22 AM |
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