Google maps have helped our town’s Pedestrian and Bicycle advisory committee by allowing us to project a satellite or streetview image on the wall for discussion. Using screencast software, I recently incorporated this into a presentation for a grant application to fund enhancements at two crosswalks:
I was looking for a simple way to share these ideas. I used Camtasia Studio from TechSmith because it allows for greater editing of the video, but an even easier solution is to install their free Jing software. Then you can capture a screen video–along with the audio you narrate. It will upload the resulting tutorial (5-minute limit on the free version) to a website and give you a short URL you can email or instant message to someone.
The coolest feature in the video above is the web browser integration with Google Earth. Simply click on the button at the top right of a map for “Earth,” install the plugin as prompted, and your map will turn into a 3D-ish representation that you can “flyover” using your mouse and scroll wheel to zoom in for greater detail. If a streetview exists, you can even drop down to the street level perspective and step through an intersection. In our meetings, this was invaluable to show members of the committee the automobile perspective approaching the problem intersections.
Another advantage of integrating this information into an online video is the power to share. I played the video (about 4-minutes) at the presentation I made to the group that decides what programs to recommend for funding, and although I think standing there next to the video of myself talking was a little strange, it was effective to be able to email that link out to other members of the group who were not present. Most presenters brought easels and cardstock, or handed out multi-page printouts.
The project was recommended to proceed to the next level. Tomorrow I will post examples of how technology can be used to actually improve the safety of these crosswalks.
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How many people who you showed this to had seen a Google mashup before? Great visuals!
For 5-minute or less videos, I use http://screenr.com that accomplishes the same.
The great thing about a screencast is that for illustrating something, you can just record the screen. It took about 5-minutes to make that video. I think people have seen mashups before, but they serve a different purpose–where you expect other people to analyze/manipulate the data to learn about something.
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