I'm about to start a dissertation project heavily based on building a map around certain variables inputted by users. It will relate users to each other based on those variables, similar to Music-Map if you've seen it.
Does anyone know anything about the technologies involved? The creater mentioned an AI application for the database.
I'm planning on using an AJAX based system.
Any information or knowledge woul be more than welcome!! :D:D
Correlation stuff is usually done via linear algebra methods, from which you would use numerical methods to approximate the solutions. Hope your maths is degree level, or at the least you don't require correlation that works in that way! I suppose it depends how you want to "relate" users to each other.
"AI" is probably too much for your project. You may want to use the "Optimal Control" branch of mathematics.
Optimal control is basically about modelling the real world with some algorithm. You have input, do stuff to it, get output and then measure the output against the real world. There will be a difference between your output and the real world, which is the error. You then alter the algorithm to try and reduce the error. In unstable systems the algorithm alters itself.
There are lots of books on Optimal Control.
It may be enough for you to "relate" users to each other in a less complicated way however. I would need to know more to say more.
As for maps, google uses AJAX technologies of which you can buy some books around. Essentially you are using javascript to send data to and from the server without reloading the page. This makes things quicker and nicer. To do it well you would use a toolkit which provides a consistent interface across the many browsers that would be used to display and edit the map.
My favourite is scriptaculous, although the Yahoo one has lots of admirers. Theres also rico and a google one, and no doubt others as well.
Look at clustering algorithms and neural networks. That's what I'd use (and have used) for such applications.
The book I bought on Optimal control is this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimal-Control-Estimation-Advanced-Mathematics/dp/0486682005
I think it's good
Thanks guys, this help is much appreciated! What applications did you make Joe?? I'll no doubt be posting more on this subject after a bit of research