ProximityCast.com

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Ideas are useless unless used

Ideas are useless unless used.
by: Theodore Levitt (b. 1925)
U.S. management theorist, writer, and editor.

ProximityCast.com was born as only an idea. A remarkable set of events caused it to be birthed into a reality. It is still only an infant, but it has seen the light of day.

I personally use ProximityCast. I also use and enjoy Google Maps and Street View. ProximityCast can get you there quick if you know how to Navigate the Site. I'll get to that toward the end of this post, but now I'll share a small story.

I love GPS and the navigational possibilities it provides. As a helicopter pilot I cut my teeth on navigating before GPS became a reality. A fact of life back then was that it didn't matter how smooth and talented a pilot was at manipulating the controls, if he couldn't navigate he was worthless. Successfully getting to where you need to go is more important than a smooth ride. A pilot who could do both was "Top Shelf".

GPS changed all of that. Now it doesn't matter if a pilot has no navigational skills. As long as he can plug in the correct numbers into his/her GPS he/she is good to go! Any dummy can do it. GPS was the solution to prevent DMZ overflights into North Korea. GPS drives EMS. I loved navigating without GPS. Dropping into an LZ (landing zone) for the first time just by reading a topo map from tree top height is quite a thrill! But now all that is obsolete thanks to GPS. I still love GPS and what it allows us to do. Simply Awesome!

Have you ever had a street address fail you on Google Maps? I have. GPS coordinates are ten times better especially when they are certified correct. ProximityCast gives you that. Submitters will receive an accuracy rating as soon as we get a plethora of users making a photographic contribution. With a submitter accuracy rating you can know who to trust and who to be skeptical of.

Expect "deja vu upon arrival" and NOT the disappointment upon arrival a street address sometimes gives you.

Okay, here's the easy way to get from ProximityCast to Google StreetView of your Establishment of Choice!

Like "Norm's Diner" in Groton, CT:


Norm's Diner Groton CT

Click the MAP VIEW button at the top of the 6 pack of Cast Results:
Norm's Diner

Once in the MAP VIEW click on the Establishment Picture you wish to view in Street View and then click "Directions" on the PopUp to go into the actual Google Maps Site:
Norm's Diner Groton CT
From there if you are familiar with Street View you can see if the area is covered and click on the "B" marker then "Street View" to see how the two compare.
Norm's Diner looks pretty good. What do you think?

I didn't create ProximityCast just for me, but for all of us. Check it out, try it out, and let me know what you think. I am interested in making it a site you like to use!

Thanks,

Founder out...ciao

2 comments:

robertrp said...

Nice entry your blog goes a long way in explaining the utility of ProximityCast to users.

David Robert ~Founder of ProximityCast.com said...

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. It helps to energize me.
So many things to do, So little time... Better than being bored.