Live Argumentation and Manipulation for udig (LAMA)
Yesterday was the application deadline for this years’ Google Summer Of Code. Two fellow students and me decided to take part with the idea of a plugin for uDig. Map annotation is already a big topic here in this blog. Carsten wrote his thesis about argumentation maps, which brings this issue even a step further. The suggested plugin should not only allow for annotating map features with additional information, but also enable user to argue about features in a chat-like discussion. They should be able to suggest modifications and broadcast specific map views to clarify certain aspects of the ongoing argumentation. The communication between the participants is built on top of the jabber protocol. For the map annotations we want to implement the already stated OGC XIMA specification. I am really curious about the reaction of the people at Google and Refractions. And I am eager to here about your comments and (hopefully) suggestions.
Go here to read our application and tell us if our plans are feasible (or just too ambitious) 
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9. May 2006 um 23:36
Wow. That DOES sound ambitious. I have no idea which part of the functionality will already be provided by udig, but I think there will still be a lot left for you to implement.
I have not quite got what you mean by “visualisation of discussion”. Just a tree structure or are you aiming at something completely new?
Sounds like you’d prefer to spend your summer in front of your laptop rather than out in the sun…
10. May 2006 um 15:23
I am desperatly waiting for laptop displays which work without problems in the sun. From that day on I will spend every sunny day outside
Anyways, back to the topic (visualisation of discussion).
First, it does only mean, that the discussion view is integrated as chat-box within uDig. I am not quite sure what you mean with the tree structure, what should be the different layers and differentations between the nodes?
Secondly, there should be a visualisation of a link between features on the map and keywords in the discussion. Do not ask how this will be done, I do not know. I am just taking part in some aspects, the other two will cover the main tasks. For me, my focus still lies on the thesis.