Saturday 30 June 2012

What is MapTime?

MapTime is an online tool for visualising "Deep Time" (e.g. time on a geological scale) using Google Maps. It based on a method described in:
Parker, J. D. (2011) Using Google Earth to Teach the Magnitude of Deep Time. Journal of College Science Teaching 40(5): 23-27
The paper was featured in a Science 2011 Editor's Choice, "A destination in time." (Science 332: 1360.)

An expanded explanation can be found on the "What is MapTime?" page of this blog. Please see the original paper for more on the rationale and pedagogy behind the method. The MapTime website can be found at www.maptime.co.uk and currently features a single TimeLine of organic evolution. A brief tutorial will follow shortly.

Friday 29 June 2012

MapTime website is live!

MapTime GraphicWe still have a little way to go before we are ready for an official launch but a functioning version of the MapTime website is now available for those interested in having a play before all the documentation etc. is written:

www.maptime.co.uk

We welcome comments and suggestions, which can be made through the comments on this blog or by emailing webmaster@maptime.co.uk. Please report any bugs to bugs@maptime.co.uk. A list of planned developments and known issues can also be found on this blog, so you might want to check there first to see if it's already on the list. (We have quite a few more plans than those listed but don't want to give them all away! ☺)

Watch this space for further developments in addition to tutorials and the like. We're also going to be on the hunt for interested parties to help test the site and develop the documentation, so please get it touch if you might be one of them. Happy MapTimeline plotting!