Google's Rasmussen on Google Maps

jbp1337 writes "During a presentation at Sydney University last week, the lead engineer behind Google Maps, Lars Rasmussen offered an interesting insight into how it all came together. Rasmussen is working on a number of AJAX applications that provide a rich desktop-like interface to the end-user from within the Web browser. Other interesting things include a Linux port of Google Earth, the company is opening a new engineering center in Sydney, and Google's design philosophy is based on end-user loyalty - not money. On the rumor of a Web-based office suite from Google, Rasmussen said he is unaware of one 'but there are 3000 people that work for Google'."

Re:Is XUL part of AJAX?

[zallus]

XUL is a user-interface description language created by Mozilla. XAML is a user-interface description language created by Microsoft. AJAX is a method of using Javascript to asynchronously update parts of page content without refreshing the entire page.

AJAX in a nutshell

[The MAZZTer]

http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=php-general&m=1121 98633625636&w=2 [theaimsgroup.com] This explains it very simply and easily. Basically you have the backend deliver content on-demand, and the frontend is a single HTML page powered by JavaScript which queries the backend for the necessary data. Just like a desktop application.

pretty, but that's it; no real feature innovation

[SuperBanana]

Rasmussen is working on a number of AJAX applications that provide a rich desktop-like interface to the end-user from within the Web browser.

Too bad the only thing going for Google maps is that it is pretty (antialiased graphics, map can be as large as you want) and lets you pan. That's really the ONLY thing that is innovative about it- not even the "use google maps for displaying stuff from your site" is innovative; Yahoo and Mapquest have been doing this for years.

• You cannot save addresses (such as your home address).
• You cannot change the route or set preferences (ie avoid toll roads etc).
• You can't see traffic or construction information.
• You cannot do multi-point routes. Ie go from your house to Jane's house and then to the movie theater. Laughable, except that's something people want to do quite a bit.
• Interstate numbers and road names are not shown nearly enough. Except for major highways, Google uses uncommon, unmarked road names. For example- headed into Tufts University, you take Route 2 to Route 16, and that is how they are marked on the streets. But Google Maps refers to it as "route 2 to Concord Turnpike to Alewife Brook Parkway. 99% of people in Boston would have no idea where "Concord Turnpike" is; 95% of them don't call Route 16 anything but "16", and it's not MARKED anything but "16"!
• Local search is almost worthless. It only finds addresses which are on websites (was it too much effort to buy a yellow pages directory database?) and when you do a search and specify "in the map area below", it promptly COMPLETELY ignores you and shows you have a effing STATE.
• Printing prints a LOW RESOLUTION version of the big map. Great, so I can tell I'm going from somewhere in the middle of Massachusetts, to somewhere in the middle of Boston, via the mass turnpike. Wonderful.

Funny thing, but MS Streets has NONE of these problems- it's not perfect, but it is FAR superior to Google Maps in useability and features people need; it has a nice way of compressing the map into a page, it's high resolution, saves addresses, does a near PERFECT job of finding "what's within the radius circle I draw", and it uses both route numbers and the uncommon road names. Nothing sets Google Maps apart from its web-based cousins, either- except for the basic map display. It certainly hasn't revolutionized online maps.

AJAX Info

[AngryNick]

From a ComputerWorld article on AJAX (July 2005): [computerworld.com]

The AJAX acronym was born on Feb. 18, 2005, when it first appeared in a paper titled "Ajax: A New Approach to Web Applications" [adaptivepath.com], which was written by Jesse James Garrett, a founder of Web consultancy Adaptive Path LLC. The term has generated a lot of buzz among developers and bloggers so far this year, but it's only the name that's new.

Re:pretty, but that's it; no real feature innovati

[millette]

"Local search is almost worthless. It only finds addresses which are on websites (was it too much effort to buy a yellow pages directory database?)"

Why can't I find a particular business listing in Google Local? [google.com]

Where does Google Local get its information? [google.com]

Aside from the ms remark (can't comment on that), the rest of your points are quite valid. So everything that google touches doesn't turn to gold, what a relief.

Re:Marketing

[Lord_Dweomer]

"Perhaps this is why they are the largest advertising agency in the world?"

Correction...they are not an ad agency, they are in the business of ad sales. The difference is that while an ad agency creates ads for clients, Google sells ad space. Just a note from your friendly local ad exec.

Re:How does Google Maps Work?

[lemnisca]

I was actually at the talk Rasmussen gave at the University of Sydney. He gave quite a good explanation of how it all works. I wrote about it here: http://freespace.atomicscript.com/ [atomicscript.com]. Note, however, that I'm not a web developer or particularly good with javascript, so my interpretation of what he said could well have errors.