What is Facebook “Where I’ve Been?

This application is an interactive map that lets you customize it by selecting where you have lived, have traveled to and where you would like to visit. Then, you can view other friend’s maps and compare them to your own.

In a Nutshell

This application is very fun to use and you can learn a lot about your friends by viewing and comparing maps.

Setting it all up

To install this interactive map tool, select ‘Where I’ve Been’ from the main application list. Once you are on the homepage for the application, click the ‘Add Application’ button. Then, you will be taken to a page where you select the options related to the installation. They are as follows:

• Know who I am and access my information
• Put a box in my profile
• Place a link in my left-hand navigation
• Publish stories in my News Feed and Mini-Feed
• Place a link below the profile picture on any profile.

After you have selected the installation options, click on the ‘Add Where I’ve Been’ button and the map is installed on your Facebook profile.

Origin of the Application

Craig Ulliott, a freelance web developer

Where can you find this application?

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2603626322&b

Facebook Usage Statistics

1,240,450 users as of 07/06/07

Pros

The concept is simple, but very user friendly. There are not a lot of complicated features and there is no need to create a separate account or sign up for anything on a third party site. The color scheme is appealing and the locations stand out from the background of the map. The map comparison option is interesting and provides a social aspect that enhances the Facebook experience.

Cons

The zoom features have click and pan functionality, which are somewhat difficult to use in the beginning. After using the application awhile, it becomes much easier to maneuver through the map. However, zooming still does not seem as easy as other map tools currently available.

Many users have expressed frustration about the map itself in their reviews. Currently, it seems that the map representation could use some refining. Some areas are too small to click on, while other locations are missing entirely. Also, more focus is placed on the North American versus the international regions.

Summary

I would recommend this application to anyone that is interested in exploring vacation options or documenting previous travels. It allows you to showcase your travels and add some personality to your Facebook profile.

Overall Rating

3.5/5