Hi folks.
I'd like to submit one idea that we got recently of a system that could be used to visualize the vitality of the developers community in our areas, and could also serve as a tool to better know how to contact those of us who travel a lot for free software...
Here is the little memo I wrote :
(ideas for a name : World Almost Real-time Developpers Positioning System)
This project aims at developing a system which would allow easy geographical representation of Free Software Developpers on the terrestrial globe maps. This would be a great way to represent the vitality of the Free Software community, as well as a contact tool which could help in joining people traveling alot.
This project was discussed by members of the french chapter of the FSF Europe and myself, on the way back from Essen, where the general assembly of the FSF Europe was held. It started as a joke, when we thought how cool it would be to have real-time localization of the Free Software developers if they had some GPS with them.
Even if we don't think that exact and real-time positioning is needed, it would still be cool to get some graphical representation (on a volontary based registration of the developpers when they arrive to a new location), and see those great migrations when community groups gather (GNU/Linux trade shows, GUADEC, Usenix, etc.).
The system would ideally consist in a web site with a database of each developer's last known location (and status / ways he can be joined, etc.), and a graphical representation system. This system could be implemented by providing ways for developers to enter latitude and longitude coordinates in a form (which they could get from public web sites converting city to coordinates... any available ?). It would then give the user access to maps of earth/continent/countries, etc. which would represent the people in those areas, and maybe the moves since last positions. This would draw trajectories and/or spots of variable width that could be rather cool (imagine that you see all these people arriving to the LSM for Debian Conference, then migrating to the LinuxTag, etc.).
Allright, I think my description is long enough.
Any comments, suggestions of implementation, or known patent records that this project would infringe ? ;)
Best regards.