Putting an interactive map on a web page used to be a time consuming and expensive proposition that only tech-heads could accomplish. Then, of course, along came Google Maps with its API. As this story in the Chicago Sun-Times says, “it costs an experienced Web programmer nothing more than an afternoon’s work.”

Google Maps is not GIS and tech-heads are still required to run GIS but when Google Maps starts becoming “a fundamental part of the Web experience” it’s something to pay attention to. Perhaps ESRI has missed the boat on this one.

But other free interactive map-building software exists - it just requires a tech head to operate. If you have such an inclination, visit MapTools.org, a repository of open source mapping software and tools.