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Google launches map making tool


MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is now on the internet map—literally. Google, Inc. on Wednesday announced the availability of a new map-making tool that will allow members of the internet community to add and share information on the internet about the user’s local geography. The Philippines joins 121 other countries for which Google developed its Map Maker tool to get more users online. In a press briefing in Makati City, Google Product Marketing Manager for Asia Pacific Jason Chuck demonstrated how online users can collaborate to bring accurate and up-to-date data that other internet users can find to be valuable either for information, business and other uses. “Google Map Maker is a tool based on Google Maps where users can interface to solve key problems," said Chuck. Among these key problems that internet users encounter is the lack of comprehensive and up-to-date information about a certain geography, particularly for a local area. The Philippines joins other countries in lacking high quality maps, said Chuck. “Google Map Maker is a simple tool that allows internet users to create and annotate maps," he added. Compared to traditional, maybe even paper-based maps, Google Map Maker leverages on the knowledge of local internet users, including experts, who may be more knowledgeable about a local geography. “Since the map data is collected from people who have first-hand knowledge of the area, the information becomes more meaningful and relevant to users," Chuck stated in a prepared statement. To verify the accuracy of the data submitted, the internet community helps moderate the entries by voting. Chuck said Google Map Maker has several uses—for education, research, business, hazard mitigation and environmental protection. It also has economic uses such as tourism promotion and agricultural forecasting. In a statement, Google quoted a geologist as saying that the tool is helpful to students. Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, Director of state-run University of the Philippines (UP) National Institute of Geological Sciences said the tool can help geology students actually apply what they have learned by contributing their own geographic information. “I intend to use Google Map Maker as part of class activities to encourage my students to become contributors," Arcilla added. The Philippine's official map maker said it can also use Google Map Maker. In the same prepared statement, Google quoted the National Mapping Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) as saying that it also uses Google Earth and Google Maps as one of its tools to cross-reference their map data and keep it updated. Another application of the Google Map Maker is for business, particularly for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Chuck said businesses can use Google Map Maker to make their presence felt on the internet. For instance, SMEs themselves can edit the map to pinpoint their exact location. With this, hopefully, the SMEs can gain more customers. Chuck said the Philippines is one of the focus countries of the California-based company because the country has a good internet user market. The Philippines has always been among the first countries to benefit from Google’s products and services. Besides having a localized Google search page (www.google.com.ph), Google recently released its new internet browser Chrome which is also available in Filipino. Chuck noted that many Filipinos are even on YouTube, a video-sharing web site which Google acquired in 2006. - GMANews.TV
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