HousingMaps is a famous rental website for American to look for a house. It was builded cause the experience of their founder Paul Rademacher. In 2005, Paul Rademacher moved to Silicon Valle and wanted to find a place. He sought out all the websites and got a lot of information back. Then he tried to type all the address into Google map and search the place one by one. Suddenly, he fell this job is very uninteresting and boring. It is better to completed by computer. He tried to connect Google map API and Craigslist (a website which supply online classified ads board service) together and build a website. So this is the origin of HousingMaps.
With data and services restructuring, innovation in assembly may create different types of services. Mashups and add-ons become a new way to extend existing services of Web 2.0website. Such as Lego building blocks, mashups integrate various applications together and provide new features. Like this case, countless third-party mashups of Google maps were spawned with Google's open code. Not only HousingMaps, the services like subway stops, UFO sightings, crime statistics and other forms products produce innovative services with Google map. People try to develop a wide range of innovative applications with using open- API and make an effort to use these types of things to find out a new business.
More and more Web 2.0 sites encourage users to use their combined data and provide new network services. These Web 2.0 sites provide interfaces platform for programmers and allow them to remix data in new ways. The participative and open framework may help developers and users easily to integrate information from different sites. These Web 2.0 sites even allow competitors services integrate on the same platform.
In my opinion, these mashup services have some characteristic features and benefits.
For Developer:
Low-Cost: Don’t need to develop new platform and content, they come from open platform.
Quite practical: These inspired services are designed cause the demand for life. In other words, the utility will be more close to the user needs.
For industry:
Widely syndication: open applications may attract lots of developers to create mashup services and promote their own service indirectly.
Identify talent: Discover new talent, like Paul Rademacher was already employed by Google.
Nowadays, many industries and developers try to develop innovative and interesting third-party services. I believe with technology as Ajax development and maturity, these combinations of lightweight may become more and more abundant in the future.
References:
Yahoo goes drag-and-drop for mapping
Mapping a revolution with 'mashups'
I agree with that mashup service is becoming common. Ummm ~ I think I have to change the sentence to "the mashup service has already popular" and it has already in the part of our life. For example, everybody know that train system in Tokyo is quite complicated, even though you are a Japanese but still get confuse often. Therefore, some people invent an app, it combine timetable and maps, the user can pass through this software get all possibility information to make a decision and get on the right train. We can see that from your example and other cases, it's worth to try to invent in mashup services and it's worth to expect the development of mashup service
ReplyDeleteSound interesting, it's really helpful for an international student like me. When I first arrived to Australia, I don't know how to search for an accommodation. if I know some web-site like this before, it should help me to get a room easily.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused. It means that HousingMaps is an example of third-party mashup style and this style of services practise the pattern of innovation in assembly. Is this right?
ReplyDeleteHi sabrinaqut, in my opinion, HousingMaps is an example of third-party mashup style. It mashup google map and Craigslist two different types of website services and create a new one which is help people to seek a house. For me, I believe it is mean innovation in assembly.
ReplyDeleteMany good examples for this design pattern!
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in the picture of 'web mashup style'. It explain very clear of how web 2.0 sites provide interfaces platform for programmers and allow them to remix data in new ways.
Obviously, This is another intersting application. I believe this app can provide a lots more convinences for developers.Moreover, I love the origin and ideas of Mashup. Overall, it’s a great tool for developers and industries.
ReplyDelete