Animating Traffic Map Image Data Using WPF
I admit it: I play favorites just like everyone else. So even though the Windows SDK has tons of content on creating both Win32 .NET Framework 3.0 apps, including lots about Windows Communication Foundation, InfoCard, MMC, and all the other great components we carry, it's Windows Presentation Foundation that I think is the most intriguing conponent. WPF simply puts exciting graphics at the fingertips of anyone who can develop apps using managed code.
I'm especially intrigued by a recent post on the WPF team blog regarding animating traffic map data using WPF. I live in the Puget Sound area, and like everyone who lives in this area, I'm obsessed with my daily commute (it's true! If you ever find yourself at a conference standing next to a Microsoft team member who works in Redmond or Issaquah, ask them about their commute. It's a guaranteed conversation starter, and chances are you'll learn more about our regional governments than you'll possibly care to know).
The Washington State Department of Transportation has a website where you can view traffic data, and the WPF team has used that site to create a very nice animated sample to analyze the data. Check it out and let that team or us know what you think. To me, this is just the sort of thing that will improve the coolness factor of working in Windows Vista, while at the same time delivering interesting content for users.