Google calls out to user community to map RP
Taking a page out of Wikipedia, search giant Google has unveiled in the Philippines a map-making tool that allows the user community to map the Philippines by contributing photos, names of streets, and other information.
The application, called Google Map Maker, was launched in the country by regional executives of the Mountain View-based Internet firm on Oct. 8 in a Makati City hotel.
The company said Google Map Maker is rolled out in countries like the Philippines where "no good base line maps exist." Although the application is currently available in 121 countries, the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to launch it formally.
Jason Chuck, Google product marketing manager for Asia Pacific, said in a presentation that the application is aimed at solving the lack of up-to-date local maps.
"Google Map Maker is leveraging the knowledge of local experts found in every neighborhood and in every town and city. Since the map data is collected from people who have firsthand knowledge of the area, the information becomes more meaningful and relevant to users," said Chuck.
Google executives are hopeful that the application will appeal to Filipinos, who are regionalistic in nature, to help map out the country, especially their hometowns and provinces.
The new tool is expected to augment the company’s Google Maps and Google Earth, which can provide satellite images of the Philippines but without the street names and useful information that a tourist or investor needs in navigating the country’s largely unmapped topography.
Chuck said information generated through Google Map Maker can be integrated in Google Maps once validation has been done.
When asked how Google can make money out this venture, the executive said the company is currently not pre-occupied with that concern and that revenues will follow if users are satisfied with their experience.
"Of course, there’s the ads on the side that users can see. But what we want to do right now is to help generate useful and updated maps for the country through content submitted by the users themselves," Chuck, said.
Allowing everyone to contribute to the maintenance and building of map data provides a unique opportunity for map enthusiasts in the Philippines to make a personal contribution to development, according to Chuck.
"Palawan is a great example of a beautiful Philippine location with limited online visibility, out-ofdate maps, and many uncharted areas. Local residents can use Google Map Maker to make Palawan’s many beaches and other natural attractions accessible to both local and international tourists," Chuck said.
Code:
MapMaker.Google.com
Google calls out to user community to map RP
Originally Posted by tingkoy13
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