Dissatisfaction with Craigslist is what spurred Paul Rademacher to create HousingMaps.com, he explained to a packed General Session at the "Real-World AJAX" One-Day Seminar in San Jose, CA, today. Using the JavaScript he saw implemented in Google Maps, Rademacher saw the potential of making location the organizing principle for a new type of housing site. The result was the first "mashup" on the Web, the best of Craigslist combined with the best of GoogleMaps.

From having been a traditional applications write - including as an animation expert for Dreamworks, where he worked among other movies on Shrek 2 - he found the transition to writing AJAX applications "real smooth," Rademacher told the audience. 

A hugely knowledgeable speaker, Rademacher's technical facility was evident right from the beginning of his student career, which culminated in his Ph.D dissertation, "Measuring the Perceived Visual Realism of Images." The audience did not hesitate to take advantage of his experience and insights, and a lively Q&A session rounded off his hugely enjoyable presentation.