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Google Map Hack & Chicago Crime Data

Posted by Hemos on from the good-applicatons dept.

joepez writes "In recent weeks we've seen some great Google Maps hacks (HousingMaps, Google's own Ride Finder, etc.), but this weekend Adrian has brought us something truly innovative. He's merged Google map data with Chicago crime data to present a once a day updated crime map of the entire city, including some really nice summarized data. Adrian calls the project Chicagocrime.org. How long till we have real time crime data showing up on Google's map? Pull open HousingMaps next to Chicagocrime.org and figure out if that low rent apartment is truly worth it. Or is this all a clever trick on Google's part to build up more and more third parties dependent upon Google?" There's also a cheap gas hack as well.

6 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. Sex Offender's Registry by killproc · · Score: 5, Interesting


    A better implementation for this would be to link to each individual State's sex offender's registry. This data is readily provided and is in the public domain.

    --
    When you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
    1. Re:Sex Offender's Registry by Gr33nNight · · Score: 5, Interesting

      A friend of mine is labeled a sex offender because when he was 18, his girlfriend was 17 (3 months apart). His girlfriends mother called the policyeabout it and he got arrested. Now he is considered a sex offender.

      Not all sex offenders are child molesters and kiddie rapists.

    2. Re:Sex Offender's Registry by Snoop+Donkey+Donk · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Our local newspaper had a blurb about a guy who was having problems coaching his kid's soccer team because they did a background check and he came up as a sex offender - he had been arrested during his college days for mooning.

    3. Re:Sex Offender's Registry by h4rm0ny · · Score: 5, Interesting


      A British newspaper did a bit of shit stirring in an attempt to boost sales. They published locations of sexual offenders names and addresses around the country. It kicked off a wave of assaults, cases of mistaken identity and included one woman whose home was wrecked and she narrowly escaped... because she was a peadiatrician.

      You want mob justice? Prepare for trial by gossip, then.

      --

      Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
  2. My Google Hack Idea by 0kComputer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not sure if this has been implemented yet. Or even how to do so, but I think a cool Google hack would be a graphical trace route program simillar to NeoTrace.

    Not sure how it would make money, but would be cool as hell with those satellite maps.

    --
    Top 10 Reasons To Procrastinate
    10.
  3. The big picture by RealProgrammer · · Score: 5, Interesting
    (er, so to speak)

    Or is this all a clever trick on Google's part to build up more and more third parties dependent upon Google?

    I think it's just a case of people using tools in ways their creators didn't envision. As Perl's Larry Wall says, that's the mark of a good tool.

    Another way to look at it is that if you serve people, they become dependent on you. Google is trying to build its business by offering services and getting people hooked.

    I, for one, welcome our new information infrastructure servant overlords.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.