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Adobe Flex Authors: Liz McMillan, RealWire News Distribution, Maureen O'Gara, Yakov Fain, Keith Swenson

Related Topics: AJAX & REA

AJAX & REA: Article

NavDog Launches AJAX-Powered Intelligent Map Search

Refines content and search results in real time

The latest AJAX-based mapping system from NavDog is a consumer-facing map search that incorporates system intelligence into the user experience. This intelligence is based on NavDog's new Geographic Business Intelligence Engine (GBIE), which is designed to process user actions in order to derive their intent. This derived intent is matched with relevant map content, which is then displayed to the user in real time through NavDog's refined AJAX technology. The system builds upon each subsequent user action in order to further refine the content it returns to the user. The end result is a map that displays the object of the user's map search, along with related supporting content through relationships between map items and their relevance to the users' immediate interests. The site literally creates a unique mashup of map content every time a user interacts with it.

The GBIE also resulted in some side-benefits that the development team was able to tap into, and turn into unique features for NavDog.com. Some NavDog.com features include:

  • Associative Search that retrieves the object of a user's search along with associated goods and services.
  • Map Session History and Replay that enables a visitor to go back through every map move
  • Automated map tours that use recorded session factors to move the map from location to location and display specific map content
  • Content filtering through real-time analysis of derived interests
  • Advanced URL String Language that provides a means of filtering content and controlling many aspects of the user interface in order to create a customized version of NavDog.

NavDog is finishing two versions of a private label map system that can be integrated into partner websites that desire a mapping feature but do not possess the resources to build one themselves. In the most basic integration, by using their advanced URL string language and a simple iframe, any website can have an instant mapping feature or store locator with no programming needed at all. The other integration will be a licensed version of the application that will give partners the ability to monetize their mapping feature and control the look and feel of the interface.

NavDog is also pursuing plans to build a content aggregator based on the GBIE that will target advertising content in real-time.

More Stories By Liz McMillan

Liz is Associate Online Editor at Ulitzer.com, where she covers news on technologies including Cloud Computing, Virtualization, AJAX, Rich Internet Applications, SOA, and WOA. You can forward your press releases by email lizmcmillan.ulitzer.com.

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