In this post I will attempt to define the properties of the tool I will now refer to simply as the Map. "MapDapps" is a terrible name; something I mostly like to giggle to myself about because it sounds funny. I will stick to calling this project with the most generic name possible, and y'all can help me worry about what to name it later.

The Map:

• Is digital. Users may access it through their electronic devices. It should be as interoperable as possible and work on any platform, be it mobile, desktop, or XR. Different applications may be developed to provide an interface with the Map.

• Has layers. Layers are the soul of the Map. No one entity owns the Map. Anyone may create a layer and reference it to the Map. There may be centralized layers owned by corporations or the state, and decentralized layers governed by digital organizations. Layers may be published for sharing with others or they may be kept private. A layer may be proprietary or it may be a public good. A layer may be accessible to all, or it may have limited access to approved users. Individuals may have private layers that they store personal information on. Layers may have two or three dimensions. Layers may reflect the real world or they may consist of art or gaming features that are pinned to coordinates in the real world. Layers are built by humans and machines.

• Is alive. Layers may continually be published, updated, and shared. Governing bodies may develop standards for adding features to their layers and work to form federated networks with neighboring layers. Layers may be curated and managed. Important map features may be imported from one layer to another. Over time, layers will become rich with detail. Users will explore what may one day be called the Metaverse, cycling through layers as they explore the world both digitally and in-person.

• Is everywhere. The Map may span the globe via layers that share a common reference system. Users located anywhere in the world may walk outside and add features to the Map themselves. Users located anywhere in the world may virtually project themselves onto the Map to explore various layers. Users located anywhere in the world may make contributions *to any location in the world* on the Map.

• Is bigger than me. I am not a developer and I do not have the skills it will take to build the Map. The Map does not currently exist. It is just a silly little idea, and ideas are cheap. That said, I do have a few thoughts on what it would take to get us there.

The Map does not exist as its own entity; it is the sum of all of its layers. To thrive, the Map probably needs some of the following to be true about its layers:

• Layers must have a shared spatial reference. The ability to cross-reference between layers is what makes the Map valuable. Conversions between coordinate systems should be abstracted from most users so they can focus on adding Map features to layers.

• Legacy "Web 2.0" vector map products may be imported as their own Map layers. Satellite imagery products - both public and proprietary - may be geo-referenced and published directly to Map layers to provide opportunities for feature tracing on other layers.

• Decentralized layers may have additional needs. Moderation may need to be performed to approve Map contributions in order to prevent spam. The digital organization that owns a given layer may develop its own standards and policies. Some digital organizations may pool resources to provide grants and incentives for users to contribute to their layer.

• To ensure accurate contributions are made, many decentralized layers may utilize robust Proof of Location protocols and reputation systems. These things are beyond the scope of this article, but the most secure decentralized layers may use a combination of zero knowledge proofs and blockchains to record accurate contributions while preserving the privacy of contributors.

• All layers will need applications that make feature contributions worthwhile. Simple applications like navigation will likely continue to be superior on centralized layers unless there are significant incentives for users to contribute to decentralized layers. The most likely way to drive participation in Map contributions is through location-based gaming applications that abstract the labor of mapping from the user. Example: the player of a location-based game notices something in the real-world that is not reflected in their heads-up display depicting their current Map layer. The player marks the feature to claim in-game rewards and the Map layer becomes a little more accurate.

I don't care how the Map gets built anymore. I used to have strong opinions about crypto and hoped to one day build the Map on Ethereum. But really, all the Map needs is for its layers to have a shared spatial reference. The infrastructure doesn't matter and it could be a conglomerate of different solutions.

I am having fun and I will keep writing. I am writing because I am frustrated with the state of crypto. I am frustrated that we are still so disconnected from the real world. I am frustrated that we are all increasingly stuck inside with these machines instead of being outside with our friends exploring the world together.

I have said it before and I will repeat it many times on this journey: I will not accept any Metaverse smaller than a Map of the entire world that is owned by all of humanity 💚🗺️

In this post I will attempt to define the properties of the tool I will now refer to simply as the Map. "MapDapps" is a terrible name; something I mostly like to giggle to myself about because it sounds funny. I will stick to calling this project with the most generic name possible, and y'all can help me worry about what to name it later.

The Map:

• Is digital. Users may access it through their electronic devices. It should be as interoperable as possible and work on any platform, be it mobile, desktop, or XR. Different applications may be developed to provide an interface with the Map.

• Has layers. Layers are the soul of the Map. No one entity owns the Map. Anyone may create a layer and reference it to the Map. There may be centralized layers owned by corporations or the state, and decentralized layers governed by digital organizations. Layers may be published for sharing with others or they may be kept private. A layer may be proprietary or it may be a public good. A layer may be accessible to all, or it may have limited access to approved users. Individuals may have private layers that they store personal information on. Layers may have two or three dimensions. Layers may reflect the real world or they may consist of art or gaming features that are pinned to coordinates in the real world. Layers are built by humans and machines.

• Is alive. Layers may continually be published, updated, and shared. Governing bodies may develop standards for adding features to their layers and work to form federated networks with neighboring layers. Layers may be curated and managed. Important map features may be imported from one layer to another. Over time, layers will become rich with detail. Users will explore what may one day be called the Metaverse, cycling through layers as they explore the world both digitally and in-person.

• Is everywhere. The Map may span the globe via layers that share a common reference system. Users located anywhere in the world may walk outside and add features to the Map themselves. Users located anywhere in the world may virtually project themselves onto the Map to explore various layers. Users located anywhere in the world may make contributions *to any location in the world* on the Map.

• Is bigger than me. I am not a developer and I do not have the skills it will take to build the Map. The Map does not currently exist. It is just a silly little idea, and ideas are cheap. That said, I do have a few thoughts on what it would take to get us there.

The Map does not exist as its own entity; it is the sum of all of its layers. To thrive, the Map probably needs some of the following to be true about its layers:

• Layers must have a shared spatial reference. The ability to cross-reference between layers is what makes the Map valuable. Conversions between coordinate systems should be abstracted from most users so they can focus on adding Map features to layers.

• Legacy "Web 2.0" vector map products may be imported as their own Map layers. Satellite imagery products - both public and proprietary - may be geo-referenced and published directly to Map layers to provide opportunities for feature tracing on other layers.

• Decentralized layers may have additional needs. Moderation may need to be performed to approve Map contributions in order to prevent spam. The digital organization that owns a given layer may develop its own standards and policies. Some digital organizations may pool resources to provide grants and incentives for users to contribute to their layer.

• To ensure accurate contributions are made, many decentralized layers may utilize robust Proof of Location protocols and reputation systems. These things are beyond the scope of this article, but the most secure decentralized layers may use a combination of zero knowledge proofs and blockchains to record accurate contributions while preserving the privacy of contributors.

• All layers will need applications that make feature contributions worthwhile. Simple applications like navigation will likely continue to be superior on centralized layers unless there are significant incentives for users to contribute to decentralized layers. The most likely way to drive participation in Map contributions is through location-based gaming applications that abstract the labor of mapping from the user. Example: the player of a location-based game notices something in the real-world that is not reflected in their heads-up display depicting their current Map layer. The player marks the feature to claim in-game rewards and the Map layer becomes a little more accurate.

I don't care how the Map gets built anymore. I used to have strong opinions about crypto and hoped to one day build the Map on Ethereum. But really, all the Map needs is for its layers to have a shared spatial reference. The infrastructure doesn't matter and it could be a conglomerate of different solutions.

I am having fun and I will keep writing. I am writing because I am frustrated with the state of crypto. I am frustrated that we are still so disconnected from the real world. I am frustrated that we are all increasingly stuck inside with these machines instead of being outside with our friends exploring the world together.

I have said it before and I will repeat it many times on this journey: I will not accept any Metaverse smaller than a Map of the entire world that is owned by all of humanity 💚🗺️