July 6th, 2005

Google Releases Maps API

by Joshua Porter  |   Comments

If you didn’t know it already, go check out the Google Maps API. It is the first official API for Google Maps. Also note that Google has both an API for its desktop search as well as an API for its Adwords campaign.

This is a huge Web 2.0 move. Provide the tools for remixing and lets folks do it themselves. APIs become the “services” of the Semantic Web by way of their openness. When developers can latch onto parts of the maps service via code, they’re doing so because the API has provided the necessary semantics. If the API didn’t provide the semantics (if the API didn’t explain what everything was), then the developers would have to hack the thing. The problem with hacking, of course, is that the company may change the API at any minute. With an “official” API, changing is less likely.

Add Your Comment

Accepted tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> .

Preview...

If your comment contains links, or if it is your destiny, your comment may not show up immediately. I'll approve it as soon as I can. (I delete dozens of comment spams per day)

Get updated when someone posts a comment: Comment Feed


ABOUT

Bokardo is the blog of Joshua Porter, a web designer/developer, researcher, and writer. I live in Newburyport, MA, USA.

WHAT IS SOCIAL DESIGN?

Social design is design that focuses on the social lives of users. It deals with the activities, behaviors, and motivations of people who work and play together through software interfaces. It is built on the observation that many of the decisions we make are greatly affected by those we surround ourselves with in our social lives: our family, friends, and colleagues. Exploring our motivations and how to design interfaces to support them is what the Bokardo blog is all about.

Designing for the Social Web

Building a social web site or application? I wrote a book just for you!

designing for the social web

Find out more or order from Peachpit or Amazon

Upcoming Speaking Events