Ideas

Hi Quala

I’m not sure if I get the right angle on this one. Somehow it’s seems impossible the service doesn’t exist already. But thinking it over, it makes sense. I think I like the idea.

Tommy

how do you indent to get the whole geographical data? if you intend user inputs too...i guess it wont be accurate!

but there is something in the idea!

First off I haven't seen a site anywhere for this, but if there is I would love a link so I could use it. Second, I didn't want to include to much technical talk, but I think that geographical data would have to come from a 3rd party like Google maps, Mapquest, etc. The user inputs could be as simple as entering a zip code for each person, but for would allow the user to input full addresses. For longer distances the zip code would probably work, but if someone wanted to use it to find a place to eat and they lived on opposite sides of town the full address would be better. I think the algorithm used to implement the system would be the hardest. We could use a simple one where we just use latitude and longitude and find the average, which may work ok for really long distances, but I would really like it to actually be more about time than distance, and actually takes into account roads.

Interesting, but I think the site needs more features to keep visitors coming back.

I think its a good idea... but i like mine better!!

A jump to conclusions mat, where you can jump... to conclusions!!

I like this idea... perhaps you should submit it to google

intresting!

MeetyouHalfway.com i believe is the better domain..hurry before someone pay for its name =)

Great idea!

This is practically a good idea web site!

Yes saigon your comment is apt =) hope quala would take it seriously.

It's an optimization problem and I like it.

The math wouldn't be hard - you could probably do it in Excel using Solver, for example.

You would have a formula for calculating a bunch of variables, e.g. total distance to be travelled by all participants, max distance, average distance, max cost estimated by a participant, average cost per participant, etc. - all based on travel data about distance, cost and travel time.

Let the users input their own values, and make those values transparent to all users so there's no cheating - and so perhaps people are encouraged to help each other out!

You could let MapQuest or some similar product provide the distances and travel times but I wouldn't trust them over a live person with actual knowledge. However, it could be an option to let them see what the MapQuest information is.

I could see this working in a business version and a recreational / family version.

Create the nice user interface and let Excel or whatever do the invisible calculations.

Great idea. Giving it top score.

This is a tremendous idea.

You could build this programatically using existing data, web services, and APIs. I would focus on Google Maps' API.

The algorithm itself is likely to evolve greatly over time, but I bet you could get something running pretty quickly. I also think if you get it built quickly, you could convince tech writers to write about it because I haven't heard of this service before, either.

However, if Google were to ever decide that this is a common usage of online maps, they could easily implement it and kill your business as soon as they push their code live.

I'd be happy to take a stab at coding a prototype, however. I'm looking for a quick gig to pay my rent at the end of the summer! :)

I like this idea. I'd use it regularly. You got my vote.

Is this really a website or a campaign to make a meeting practical?

I didnt get it why do i need to visit the portal to let me planned my trip.
if i have my way, a mobile application would be better since probably the afterthought will happen after a call or SMS message. so before someone reply check this "meethalfway" organizer.

What do you think?

I'm not quite sure what your saying ogama... you're bad grammar might be making it harder. First the majority of people using the application wouldn't be on the road already. The trips I am talking about would probably be greater than 30 minutes which isn't something most people just drive after a text or call. The 'trip' you would be making is usually planned. For example say you were visiting your mom over a weekend and you left your cell phone at her house... well if you live 2 hours a way from your mom's house and you wanted to pick up that cell phne thats one heck of a trip and cell phone is probably something you would want before the weekend, but your mom is a nice lady and says if you buy her dinner she will meet you halfway, but where is halfway? This is when you would go to this site. You may think an example like that never happens, but being a college student I see it all the time where someone has to meet their parents halfway home to get lots of things, textbooks, calculators, etc. I want to take it just beyond 2 people though because their are many reasons a large group may want to meet, business, reunion, recreation, etc.

I love it! But then again, I'm a map addict. I would use this for sure!

If anyone has any ideas for possible domain names I'm more than open, its really hard to find a good name that isn't taken. Right now centralmeetingplace.com, centrallocation.com, somewhereinthecenter.com, centerofthegroup, are the best ones I could come up with, but none of them really jump out at me.

meetingpoint.com mabee?

I think it's important to at least give users the option of inputting their estimated trip time, distance and cost.

It could be calculated by a machine, and that might be correct, but lots of the time there are local conditions which machines don't know about - construction, road closures - and personal factors - e.g. some people can't drive at night, or when the travel involves flying, connection times vary widely.

So, while I love maps, and I would want this to be tied into maps, I wouldn't want a "MapQuest" deciding unilaterally what the trips of the various users would entail.

I like the name MeetyouHalfway.com
Tommy