Introducing the Web 2.0 Innovation Map. We all know Silicon Valley is hot when it comes to web startups. But, what about other areas of the country? Are there any hidden hotbeds of web talent? What other groups were in the northwest along with Fourio? These were some of the questions I was looking to answer. Now, Web 2.0 can be visualized, using what else, but the Google Maps API and Yahoo Geocoding API.
I’ve taken 200 applications, tracked down their addresses, geocoded them, and placed them on the map. With some help from Todd on the design, this map was put together in the last week. It was much more work than I thought it would be to track down the addresses. Without a good (open/free/structured) WHOIS API, most of the address lookups were manual. And don’t get me started on sites not listing a contact address. Fortunately, my geocoder app worked great, so getting lats/longs was fairly painless. Then it was just a matter of exporting the Excel data to a JavaScript array and hooking it up to the map.
On a side note, I’m not here to debate the “Web 2.0″ term. For this application, Web 2.0 is simply defined by the explosion of internet applications that have come out over the last year or so. I’ve used other people’s lists to compile the apps to be mapped.
The map isn’t completely finished (what web application ever is?). I’d like to add descriptions, include company information, and maybe add a little thumbnail of the site. But, I like to release early and see what kind of interest there is before investing too much time. Any feedback is appreciated.
If anybody knows of a good source for WHOIS data, or has a well structured (XML preferably) list of web apps with the name, url, and brief description (along the lines of an API for eHub or TechCrunch), please let me know.
Thanks to Adam Trachtenberg’s eBay Motors & Google Maps mashup for being a great example of how to do a mashup. It’s one of my favorites as far as implementation goes and was a big inspiration for the innovation map.
Update:
I see that TechCrunch has added an OPML file, which is a very big help. The one problem is that it points to the TechCrunch post. If there was something similar that pointed to the actual site’s URL, that would be awesome.
Glad you like the mashup. It was fun to do. Not surprisingly, coding the JavaScript took far longer than the backend PHP work.
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looking to add the maps, i need professional help.
anyone doing this, please email
Really love the map Ryan. Good work.
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Well done. I wonder how many companies outside of the USA would be considered web2.0? I only know of a handful, including here in Australia.
Ryan
Looks great. This would be great for geo caches I think?
Kenh
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Ryan,
Very cool map. Regardless of what people want to call Web 2.0, it’s really interesting to see where the innovation is happening. Definitely more global than just Bay Area.
Good luck with it.
Michael
Didn’t you forget Netvibes ? It’s located in Paris, France
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Only two web 2.0 in Spain?
Post in my blog:
here
regards
fron Barcelona Spain
hector
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Great map- useful & kool.
Bet you’ll get lots of mail on Web2 apps “you should add”, my vote on that thread is http://www.pubsub.com
Where the hell is Copenhagen, Denmark? Birth city of Rails if I’m not mistaken. Is this a “Web Innovation” map or a “Web Site HQ” map?
er…but nice map, sorry
Thanks goodcompany. To answer your concern, yes it is more of a Web Site HQ map as opposed to an event based map (birth of technologies being an event). I’ll try to make that more clear.
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Ryan, the Web 2.0 Innovation Map is superb. Quick question: will you be adding a feed directly to its home page? I’d love to subscribe to this as it grows.
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What about Minti (www.minti.com)
Located in Perth – Western Australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth%2C_Western_Australia)
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Great Map… good concept… how about coming up with a criteria for being Web 2.0 and a submission tool for new sites to be added? There would be a huge resource…