A few years ago, sharing services between websites was absolutely impossible. There where no places on the web with the function of sharing information due to security reasons. Today due to innovation in assembly, sharing services has been implemented and people use this opportunity every day.
Nowadays, innovation in assembly made life much easier with websites supporting sharing services in multiple ways. “When commodity components are abundant, you can create value simply by assembling them in novel or effective ways” (Tim O’Reilly). Combining web 2.0 platforms can be called Mashup as long as the platforms are communicating actively by using Application Programming Interface.
What is API exactly? According to Cory Janssen, Application Programming Interface (API) is a software program that facilitates interaction with other software programs. How can API benefit the users? With its help, websites can easily provide services to each other, for example, Yelp and Google map.
As I am a member of Yelp, I have decided to evaluate Yelp due to the intelligent services that it provide to the users. It is an online urban guide and business review site, which offers API to Google maps. Yelp users can search for shops, restaurants, fashion cafes, etc. When a user reviews the place, he/she can rate it and give some feedback so that other users can learn more about the location. Furthermore, when the user clicks on the location of the place, Yelp simply transfers him/her to Google maps by using API, so everyone can get the direction from Google maps via Yelp. On the other hand, there are many features in this amazing website, such as Yelp message, which allows users to chat and discuss any place and even make new friends.
Here are the reasons why I chose Yelp as the best example of innovation in assembly:
- Yelp offers API to Google maps, which allows users access the Yelp website, getting the location with directions from Google maps.
- It allows users to tag in any place in Google maps and give the option for the user to address the place.
- Yelp offers sharing views via other social websites such as Facebook to allow users share their views and ideas of the place.
- Yelp gives the option for any business marker to add more information to the users, such as the phone number, the food menu and opening days.
In conclusion, I hope that you learned something new about Yelp and the connection between Google maps and this service through API. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask or contact me. Thank you for your attention!
References
Orenstein, D. (2000). QuickStudy: Application Programming Interface (API). Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/43487/Application_Programming_Interface?pageNumber=1”
O’Reilly. (n.d.). What is Web 2.0. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://oreilly.com/pub/a/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html?page=4”
Crunchbase. (n.d.). Yelp. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.crunchbase.com/company/yelp#ixzz2wtZkUps4; http://www.crunchbase.com/company/yelp”
Casel, B. (2012). 7 Ways to Use Yelp to Improve Your Local Business. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/yelp”
Yelp. (n.d.). Home page. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “https://www.yelp.com/”
