Charting Google Maps

Google is calling on its millions of users to chart a new direction for its online maps. As part of a new initiative the Internet search leader will provide free tools designed to make it easy for people to share their knowledge about their neighbourhoods and other favourite places by creating customised maps that can assemble information from a variety of sources.

Map creators will be given the option to make the content public or keep it private. Thousands of hybrid maps, often called "mashups," are already available on the web, documenting everything from local housing markets to active volcanoes. But cobbling together an online map typically requires some computer coding skills.

Google has tailored its tools for a mass audience, making map mashups as easy to produce as pointing and clicking a computer mouse. The company is hoping the simplicity will generate millions of highly specialised maps that can be stored in its search index. Until now, Google's maps had primarily been used for driving directions and finding local businesses. The new maps should open up new avenues as users share sights about vacation spots a wide range of academic s jects, said Jessica bee. prod manager of Google maps.

'This is a big change.' said. "Even if we cut loose all developers, we could never create maps with the same depth and quality as our users can."