Hi, I don't think this is a hardware issue. I've generally thought of whiteboard as a software tool that allows multiple people in diverse locations to share a map and draw over it, regardless of the client hardware. In browser whiteboards there isn't much need to be on the same continent let alone in the same room.
The typical scenario is to pull up an existing project made up of OWS layers. Multiple players then draw vectors over this base with discussion. At some point in the discussion the project owner saves the new geometry back to database. I know the Geoserver project is working on a set of versioning functionality which would make this scenario more valuable in the open map type of community. I believe there were several initiatives to create browser whiteboard tools for mapping using some of the rich client technologies like svg and flash. I made several using svg back in 2003 but there seemed to be little interest. Perhaps as WFS-T becomes more accessible whiteboard will also become more of a need. Combining OGC services with real time drawing in the browser would seem like a nice ability and I'm surprised it isn't more common. Also the WPF Xaml technology with its Ink api should make whiteboard development in the browser much easier, so I imagine browser white board tools will become more common in the GIS client field. As I recall there was a group in Italy that produced a nice svg whiteboard tool directed at the utility industry. If you are interested I could try to look back a couple of years and find where that project ended up. randy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas Burley Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 6:12 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Geowanking] interactive GIS "white boards/smart boards" Hi: Does anyone know of any GIS technology or GIS-compatible tools that act similar to an erasable white board but capture what the users draw or create on the board and draw that back into a GIS? The idea is to allow users to create scenarios in real time so as to draw upon the collective knowledge of the people in the room, for example, in the field of natural resource management (picture a group of people hunched over a table, drawing on a USGS topographic map...but essentially a 21st century version of that). I think I have heard of tools called "smartboards" that kind-of work like this, and obviously tablet PCs and PDAs have a similar screen function. This would need to be something that would be similar to a GIS-enabled white board which would then feed back into a GIS so that the interactions, consequences, and possible conflicts associated with what the users create (in the context of relevant ancillary data and input data such as current land cover/use, etc.) in terms of changes and scenarios could be assessed. Much appreciate any info! cheers --T.B. _________________________ Thomas E. Burley Research Associate Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment The University of Tennessee Phone: 865-974-4251 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://isse.utk.edu _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
