Junk on a Map

Living in a small to medium sized town like Carbondale, it's easy to get used to getting wherever you want to go in town in at most ten minutes. So, unless your job causes you to travel to other towns or the kinds of things you want to do require you to go far afield you probably don't have a lot of use for Google's maps feature (aka "Google local"). That is unless you are someone who must time-wastingly play with any new technology because doing so is hard wired into our nerd DNA.

It is also nerd DNA that makes us applaud people who find actual practical uses for this technology. One such applause-worthy venture is Garbagescout. Garbagescout is basically just a website where people can post pictures of street trash. The wrinkle that makes this cool is that these pictures (that people take with their camera phones and then email to the garbagescout website) are linked to specific addresses on a locally embed-able version of Google maps. Garbagescout is mainly in NYC right now, but this simple concept seems like it might catch on -- in other large cities, at least.

It is the downloadable Google Maps API that makes this site possible, because by using it you can create a google map for your interests and your local area to go on your website. It does take a bit of coding skill to make it work, but nothing that is beyond someone with knowledge of some basic html (because Google gives you lots of sample code you can use and modify).

Your local google map can have as much functionality as the original - including the ability to "tag" items of interest to a specific address with a marker and a little popup description. Sound interesting?

Just think of the uses! How about a map that continually updates the locations of (and provides an image of the merchandise from) all the garage sales in the Carbondale? Why not create a map that displays the addresses (and images) of all the most derilict buildings in the area. (I know someone was making such a list...who was that?...hmm, if I could only remember...) Or for fun, how about a geocaching-esque city-wide treasure hunt? (You are given the address and an image of what you must find, but not its exact hiding place at that address. The person who collects the most items is declared the winner.)

Or one could simple follow the Garbagescout example and post the images and locations of interesting bits of detritus -- I mean, there's always someone out there for whom this trash will be treasure, right?

I won't need to post mine because every time we leave something out by the street, it's gone in like 20 minutes. I just need to remember not to park my car too close to the garbage cans with the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition. Again.