AbstractCartoblography: organising and visualizing the spatial context of micro-bloggingTrack: Education Author The growth in social networking has given rise to an increasingly interconnected world. There exists a growing desire for maps defining our place, locating us in unfamiliar surroundings, navigating us and providing spatial context for our activities. We explore this spatial expression using the social networking tool Twitter. Examples of 'Twitter maps' are reviewed which utilize the Twitter API in concert with map services (e.g. ArcGIS Online) to visualise elements of the tweet. In defining cartoblography, we develop and propose three main Twitter map classes: simple mashups; Twitter maps that spatially reference asynchronous and spatially distant collaboration; and the use of ##hashtags and other key terms to create spatial representations of threads in tweets emanating from a unique place (e.g. conference). Innovative visualizations of tweets illustrate approaches for effectively organizing information and to promote a richer, spatially organised micro-blogging environment informed by cartographic design. Kenneth Field Kingston University Centre for GIS Penrhyn Road Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE United Kingdom Phone: +44(0)2085477541 E-mail: ken.field@kingston.ac.uk James O'Brien Kingston University London Centre for GIS Penrhyn Road Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE United Kingdom Phone: +44(0)2085472000 E-mail: j.obrien@kingston.ac.uk |