Where’s the interactivity?

Posted on June 5, 2007 by Melissa Worden

Oh, I’m so disappointed. The headline “Attention Google map surfers” on USATODAY.com’s Interactivity blog caught my attention. This’ll be good, I immediately thought.

The post explains how the interactive came about (it goes with a print story by Craig Wilson about how Google’s map service is picking up rooftop messages) and highlights that readers can submit their own images of rooftop announcements, ads, etc.

They urge us:

“So, go to Google Maps and start surfing! I did, and spent a happy hour skimming major cities and suburbs searching for messages.”

Sounds great.

>> Except there’s no link to the interactive on USATODAY.com.

>> There’s no link to Google Maps

>> When I go to the text story (this link IS provided) I only see two photos. This is a gallery?? That’s all that could be found during an hour of surfing?

>> And as for the interactivity — readers have to e-mail in their photo samples? Really?? C’mon. That’s so last year. This is supposed to be Web 2.0, no? Where reader interaction is most accessible and instantaneous?