BorisMann talked Geo at BarCampVancouver2007

Summary:

• encourages every to try and help build the amount of "geo" encoded information out there
• demo'd TomTom Bluetooth receiver and Nokia E61 with GETrack
• pointed to some software, Flickr maps, etc.
• take action: go forth and Geo!

Related blog posts:

• Jeffrey Veen, we should geo-enable the entire web: http://www.veen.com/jeff/archives/000971.html
• Richard Akerman's review of two simple GPS loggers: http://scilib.typepad.com/science_library_pad/2007/05/dg100_gps_logge.html
• Boris' write up of using the Bluetooth receiver and some software for the first time: http://bmannconsulting.com/blog/bmann/experimenting-bluetooth-gps-receivers-my-first-gps-adventure
• Boris' offer to jointly purchase a GPS logging device: http://bmannconsulting.com/blog/bmann/want-buy-gps-logging-device
• Boris' post on geo-related items from Google: http://bmannconsulting.com/blog/bmann/new-google-map-stuff-link-roundup

Hardware

• Bluetooth receivers usually need a laptop or smartphone to talk to in order to log GPS data; they tend to be a bit more complex, but are meant to interface with live interactive map applications
• GPS loggers can come in everything from the form of a Garmin watch that will also log heart rate and blood pressure to simple compact loggers like the Sony or DG100 that is reviewed above; clip them onto your belt loop, start logging, and take them with you everywhere
• hardware is as little as ~$100 CDN

Software

• GPSBabel is the main cross platform open source app; it's ugly as sin but works with everything
• many / most GPS devices will ship with some sort of crazy Windows software -- please add notes on experiences, links to the apps, and/or blog posts above
• on the Mac, you'll want to check out LoadMyTracks (does some heart rate stuff), GPS Photo Linker, and Houdah Geo / GETrack is the simplest app that "just works" for logging GPS data from a Bluetooth receiver to a Series60 smartphone

Web Apps

• Google My Maps has some interesting tools, including a directory to add "Mapplets" which add various features
• http://www.everytrail.com is a GPX track uploading / display service that I haven't experimented enough with yet
• add yours!