" The greatest gift of the web is the ability to leverage communities. On the web, enthusiasts not only consume maps, they produce them too. Niche maps (bird spots along the Erie Canal for example) now have immediate and reciprocal niche audiences. The future of mapmaking lies in developing tools that allow maximum participation by any person with passion for maps. The long-term problem of [vendors like]  National Geographic is that their system is closed to third party vendors or participants who don't buy their software. This will inherently limit the adoption of the exchange, as cool as it is. What is likely to come along and overwhelm it is an open source version that allows anyone to download the software, add a level to a map, and then swap it. Just like in music and films where file swapping is rampant, money will be made in selling additional and premium services."