A new Google Maps mashup plots the exact locations of people looking for quick sexual encounters.
The adults-only site, called hookupmaps, provides a new way to skim the steamy solicitations in Craigslist's infamous "Casual Encounters" section, a virtual red-light district for random rendezvous.
San Francisco computer engineer Josh Liptzin said he coded the clever site to put a fresh face on Craiglist's stark design.
"I'd seen the regular Craigslist ads, and they seemed so 1996 — bland," said Liptzin in a phone interview Wednesday. "So I decided to improve the interface."
Similar to the whimsical, color-coordinated maps by cartoonist Dorothy Gambrell that mapped Craigslist's "Missed Connections" posts, hookupmaps makes good use of the popular community site's data.
To create the site, Liptzin rigged up a system that parses raw data from Craigslist and integrates it with Google Maps to create a constantly updating visualization of raunchy adverts across the United States.
Randy browsers select a city, then can filter the listings by age, date, availability of photo and sexual proclivity (men seeking women, women seeking women, etc.). Then, they are rewarded with a map studded with heart-shape icons displaying the number of listings in the area, if any. The icons link to the full listings, which advertise some rather specific and unusual services.
A quick glance at San Francisco's Mission District turned up nearly 600 postings; a flyby of New York's Chelsea neighborhood turned up nearly 1,000 amorous advertisements. If users spot an ad that tickles their fancy, they can zip a quick note to the lister through hookupmaps or upload their own racy bulletin.
Liptzin says that since launching his mashup Friday, he's seen more than 10,000 visitors to the site. And they aren't all curious voyeurs.
"A good part of the traffic is returning for multiple visits," said Liptzin. The return rate suggests that people are putting the mashup to good use.
While Liptzin is considering branching out into other regions of Craiglist to create similar mashups, for now, he's keeping a close eye on hookupmaps.
Photo: reshi/Flickr
[via Boinkology]
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