Update:   Continuing my theme of working backwards and getting things done faster than if I had done them the "right way" here is a tool developed by Joshua Tauberer that exposes the entire SEC EDGAR database in the way we need it exposed, and outputs RDF.  Now it is a matter of linking to this output and creating a visualization.  One more step!

Location

The Net Squared in Action section of this site is an inspiring set of profiles written about non-profit inovators and their work with new web tools.  One of those case studies is a mapping tool called Community Walk, a tool that uses Google Maps to alow users to create their own maps of any community of interest or other set of geographic locations.  I thought it would only make sense to use Community Walk in some way regarding the list of groups profiled in the Net Squared case studies.

Interviewee: Steve Hargadon

Site discussed: http://www.refurbishedcomputers.us/

Service Used: http://frappr.com

Steve Hargadon is a commercial computer refurbisher based in Sacramento, California.  He sells computers to public schools in need of affordable resources and has worked in the past with Net Squared's parent organization, CompuMentor.

Some time ago Steve visited Canada and learned that the Canadian government's computer refurbishment program has supplied public schools across the country with about 25 % of their computers in use.  He found this quite inspirational, but was frustrated that there was insufficient infrastructure in the United States to donate such a large quantity of computers.  He believes that not enough networking has been done.

Good visualizations of data probably light up entirely different synapses in the brain than almost anything else.  I have long wondered just how truly useful they are, though.  Over the past few weeks, I've been convinced that online maps in particular are a very important development.

GoogleMaps is a powerful new tool that people all around the world are utilizing for a wide variety of projects.  The system is highly functional, integrates data and imagery beautifully and is very nice to look at at the same time.  It is also very welcoming for people who want to manipulate maps to visualize their data.