For a number of years only professionals familiar with GIS systems like ArcInfo from ESRI were even talking about sharing geospatial information. With the commoditization of GPS receivers, cheap cameras, and some creative people writing code we how have a number of applications where citizens/consumers making ad hoc databases of photos, wireless hot spots, and other subjects.
There are interesting humanitarian uses of mapping. Take a look at Global MapAid in Santa Clara, California. They are going to be mapping famine relief efforts in a part of Zimbabwe where Mugabe exercised extreme measures against the locals.
On the lighter side, Picturesque Tokyo has a rather elegant interface.It will take a while to load. There is a b/w satellite image of the city, and each entry is a bullseye. Pass the mouse over and a small image comes up with latitude and longitude information as well as an altitude attribute--something crucial in a high rise urban area.
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