Jaimini: September 2007 Archives

Yahoo announced a new beta product today called MapMixer. It allows any user to overlay any kind of map on yahoo maps. Basically you are sticking your map on to a existing yahoo map. This is an interesting concept, it allows user to upload maps which are more detailed than what yahoo provides or for that matter yahoo doesn't even cover it well. Furthermore, you can upload maps which has very specific information about a place like inside of USC Campus or the map of railway system of city. So the way we currently have satellite maps, traffic map, street view, this would be just another type of map with a different type of information only at a smaller scale. This all sounds good but a lot depends on how yahoo decides to use this "user generated content". Currently theres nothing much you can do once you upload you map other than spam your friends by sharing the map with them. The uploaded maps don't actually show up on yahoo maps website, which is understandable for now. I think it be great if while using yahoo maps, i also had access to such user upload maps on based on where exactly I am on the yahoo maps. I think its very useful for someone who is trying to get to philadelphia airport and also know exactly the route to the arrivals terminal and parking without opening up the airport's website. But again, as with any user generated content there are problems with authenticity of the information and how much you trust it. For now it is more in a my "geeky project" phase so lets stay tuned.

BTW, i created this on map mixer. took me 10 minutes.
Political Map Of India

The ministry of external affairs has drafted an ambitious plan to outsource a major portion of the regional passport offices' work so that once a police verification report is received, a passport is issued within three days.
Times of India

My reaction. Oh nice. The official say the reason we need such an arrangement as a country we claim that we have all the know how and technically there is no reason that why passport issue should take 45 odd days (Which I personally don't think is that long for normal cases). The plan is to setup privately owned center which will do all the paper work and the regional will be untrusted mainly for officially endorsing the passport i.e. signing it. But I have concerns too. I want to see what are the provisions made to curb corruptions issues which may be arise. Whenever any government body interacts with an outside private parties, there is always a possibility of corruption. Also, there is a possibility of cutting corners in the procedures. Like the way it happens at Driving license office when you go through agent. Though a good move forward, I think there are lots of details to be ironed out.