I rarely use the 4 years of high school french that I didn’t learn to describe something, but VG Map fits the bill (see title above).
VGMap is a new library created by Eyebeam R&D that allows designers, developers, and mapping geeks to overlay data on top of Google Maps in a richer way than is possible using their standard system. It is called VGMap because it adds vector-drawing capability to the already-awesome GMap API.
This is another example of we media. Users taking google’s maps, APIs and home-grown ingenuity to do something cool. The Eyebeam guys have combined GMaps with Flash (ooohhh vector goodness) and released a spec and set of ActionScript libraries for doing it yourself. Sharing is one of the tenets of Web2.0.
A description of Eyebeam:
Eyebeam engages cultural dialogue at the intersection of the arts and sciences. Its goal is to forge an understanding of the relatedness of these practices, which are becoming increasingly significant engines of cultural production. Eyebeam amplifies the flux and hybridity of the art/science intersection by openly fostering the parallel strands of EDUCATION, RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, EXHIBITION with its public and peers. It implements this mission by:
> Providing educational programming and access to cultural resources to the community.
> Facilitating research and development of innovation in cultural production and technology.
> Enabling artistic creation by providing access to technological and cultural resources.
> Expanding and informing the critical perception of art, culture and media through exhibitions and public programs.