Directions Mag poll on what you’d like to learn
If you didn’t have to pay for it, that is. The poll asked:
If you could take one course for free (and had time to study!) what type of course would you choose?
Just under 300 responded to it. Programming tops the list? What does that tell you about the one-size-fits-all out of the box applications and the rise of the mashup? And when it comes to creativity, who is pushing the envelope in GIS development the most today? Is it ESRI, Google, Microsoft, TeleAtlas…?
Some of the most creative consumer based user interface adaptations in mapping to come along over the last five years were developed outside of the traditional GIS space. As GIS became more accepted and recognized (Google Earth), these outsiders became the insiders and pushed the traditions around a little. They may not have recognized the name GIS, but they were certainly using an Information System based around Geography (aka GIS). Now if you want really good directions, you’ll still have to go to Mapquest which still lags behind in cool interfacing. If you want really neat imagery, though not always the most current, you’ll do best with Virtual Earth. If you want everything else, you’ll Google for it.
It’s the data, stupid.
We were talking shop the other day and realized the traditional GIS space lacks creativity in maximizing the IS part of GIS. So much focus is on data capture and display, and less on how it can be used in bigger enterprise IS systems. That’s not to say it is not being used, we just keep thinking of great ideas that still aren’t being developed yet because the mindset is still so niche focused.
As a GIS user, what say you?
Filed under: ESRI, Google, Google Earth, Virtual Earth
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