GeoWorld

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow POSITION T BY TODD DANIELSON he headline's quote from William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is likely cliché and overused by those in my position, but it summarizes exactly how I feel. Besides, I've always wanted to quote Shakespeare in my column, and this is my last chance. I am moving from my post as editor of GeoWorld magazine, GeoPlace.com and the GeoReport newsletter to a new medium—video streaming on geospatial topics. This column is my "last act" (double meaning intended) in an amazing and wondrous production that has spanned nearly 17 years of my life. Humble Beginnings Todd Danielson is editor of GeoWorld magazine, PO Box 773498, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477; e-mail: tdanielson@geoplace.com. 4 G E O W O R L D When I first started in this industry, the Internet was just coming into common use. AtlaVista was the search engine of choice, and the information accessible by it was basic at best. My most common usage was to find mailing addresses of the few companies found on the early World Wide Web. During my first few years, I routinely had to explain the basics about the industry I served. "What's a giss?" was a common question, and I had to patiently explain that it was "GIS," which stands for geographic information system, an up and coming technology that uses computer-based mapping to record and analyze an incredibly varied amount of information. Most still didn't "get it." Esri was there in the beginning, already a powerhouse, but much of its early competitors are long gone, replaced by companies that better evolved with the industry's emergence. But outside of the "hardcore users," the mainstream public had little use and recognition of what was to become a powerful and omnipresent industry. / O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 O 1 3 Mainstream Breakthrough The tide toward universal recognition started with MapQuest, which used the Internet's capabilities to create instant mapping for driving directions. It didn't take long for millions of people to take advantage of its convenience, and the death knell for paper maps began. When AOL purchased MapQuest in 2000 for $1 billion, it signaled to the world that mapping was something the general public wanted and needed. There have been other milestones, but the "big one" was unleashed by a small company called Keyhole Inc., which created an easy-to-use mapping interface that started with a view of the globe. The technology gained prominence during the Iraq War that began in early 2003. Mainstream media dramatically increased its use of mapping, and global map views with small credits of "Keyhole Inc." became common. Of course, the geotechnology world changed in 2004 when Google purchased Keyhole and used it to launch Google Earth. Seemingly overnight, the technology that previously was limited to a select group (and those looking for driving directions) exploded onto mainstream consciousness, and nothing has been the same since. Some of the largest corporations in the world now include the core geotechnology principles in their offerings. The number of Google Earth downloads surpassed the billion mark in 2011, and, in 2013, the Google Maps app became more popular than Facebook's, with approximately 54 percent of all smartphones actively using it each month. This is a fantastic industry, and I consider myself very lucky to be involved in it. Although I am sadly leaving GeoWorld, I couldn't leave the industry altogether. There's too much promise here. I'm moving into video production, so you'll likely soon see me on a YouTube clip, carrying the torch for geotechnology in a different medium. Before I go, I must thank the wonderful readers of this publication. Your dedication to your craft is a constant inspiration. The technology is amazing, but it's the people that make this industry truly great.

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