Bringing the Cloud Down to Earth

Greetings!

When I was a child, there were six main sources of information:  parents, school, friends, television, newspaper, and books.  Each one firmly held our total attention.  We felt the information was true, and we often had time to reflect on it.  If the information called up a specific geography, we used our imaginations, augmented by school wall maps and globes to place in into geo-context.

Young people now have more complex sources of information.  Smart phones and other internet devices have expanded the volume of information, and are bringing it from new sources.  Cloud data on websites and app screens is transitory by design, is difficult to organize, and leaves little time to reflect and absorb.

I'm one of a number of Google visionaries who are pioneering location-based data to improve the ways that humans access cloud data.  We develop Google Maps with links to real time and archival cloud data to where you are, or where your cursor is on a map. Such an axis provides access to focused content which is currently scattered across the info-sphere, and which is better understood when placed on the biosphere.





  

Civic Engagement Technology Hangout Discussion

Greetings!

My interest in using new technologies to increase civic engagement is broader than fascinating maps.  It's all about communication.  One of the communities I founded over on Google Plus focuses on Google's Hangouts on Air broadcasts which discuss the latest technologies to improve civic engagement.  Though a longer video than I usually post, here are some very interesting pioneers trying out HOA to explore their latest ideas.




Some other shorter challenging videos on civic engagement:

Social Media, Governance and civic participation, a hot topic in a Nigerian HOA. Your Engagement Matters, Jefferson Smith from Portland
Why Community Matters-The Case for Civic Engagement and Parks: David Smith .

California Coastal History Project

Greetings!

The project which brought me into the use of Google Engine Maps Pro is the California Coastal History Project.  I'm a board member, and past President, of Coastwalk California.  The organization has existed for 30 years, and is best known for promoting and helping people use the California Coastal Trail.  Decades of annual multi-day Coastwalks on every part of the coast have resulted in a growing army of coastal activists who monitor and protect public access.

We are always looking for ways to bring costal access information to the public's view.  Recently, I decided to apply some of the expanding internet tools involving mapping display of linked content.

The results, so far, are statewide and county maps which anchor the issues from the past, as well as those currently being discussed, to the specific locations involved.

Have a look:


The individual county maps can be found at:

Del Norte

Humboldt

Mendocino

Sonoma

Marin

San Francisco

San Mateo

Santa Cruz

Monterey

San Luis Obispo

Santa Barbara

Ventura

Los Angeles

Orange

San Diego

If you're interested in learning more about, or joining in on the movement to use these mapping tools to tell important stories, contact me at gfearon@gmail.com.


Gregory Fearon

Returning to the Sweat Lodge

Greetings!

Gazetteers are a lot like elders in sweat lodges.  Our drawings tell stories of the past, and help guide followers to a more informed future.   If you're in the business of messaging, you need to join us in the lodge.

Gregory