Standard Mischief

So have you ever fooled around with Google Maps, and wondered how far apart two different points are? I usually get a piece of scrap paper out and press it to the screen, make some marks and then klutz around with the scale. If you have two address, you can input them in and have Google route a path for you, but what if you don’t have an address? What if you wanted to take a different route, or you were on foot or in a boat?

Thankfully, Google made tools that let people integrate their map data into their own web applications. It’s called Google Maps API (application programming interface), and I’ve found a really handy killer app, Gmaps Pedometer.

It’s the same friendly Google interface you’re familiar with, except when you double click on the map (after you press “start recording”) it puts a point on the map. Put two or more on the page, and Gmaps Pedometer calculates the total distance. Click on the above picture to go to a sample page I made. It’s a hike from Dupont Circle to some place in Georgetown. Would hiking from Rossyln Metro station be any quicker? Try it and find out.

I’ve already wasted entirely too much time calculating exactly how far my regular walks are. You can actually zoom all the way in and trace a path on the sidewalk if you want.

There’s even a calorie counter included.