
Well, it all started out when I saw (e:ajay) 's site about google and I just couldn't stop after that. The softwar n ow let's you pick an arbitrary google map at zoom 2 and then works. I have to say he is all around inspirational because he is also the guy that got me hooked on xmlHTTP. I remember when I was visiting him for some linux help one day and he mentioned it. I sersiously had no idea how great it was. Soon enough I will totally redo this site to be way cooler. With networked live user interaction.

How does it work?
Basically, a cell-phone sends data from a GPS in the moving vehicle to a MySQL database. A PHP file reads from that database and makes it available to the world. The same PHP file, disguised as a tiny xml file calculates the current latitude and longitude in pixel location values. The xml file is then read into the browser DOM using xmlHTTP, a javascript technology. With the live location data, the van icon is moved on the map accordingly via javascript. The site continues to poll the database every 5 seconds for smooth real-time mapping yet maintains very low bandwidth data requirements as the page never has to reload.
The site is also capable of extreme error handling so that the end user does not notice an glitches with missing or innacurate data. The site even has a debug mode, that is avaiable by hitting the "d" key on the keyboard. Furthermore, the user can surf the history of the van's movement by using the left and right arrow keys.
There is are also some shortcuts.
Left and right arrow - go back in time and return to the present time
T = tracking mode
D = debug mode
s = satellite image
r = show and hide route
