如果2008年有那种新的网站形式值得关注的话，那一定是Mashup。
旅游业是为数不多的能在新兴技术的应用方面领先的行业之一，现在当然要跟上形势，以免落在人后。
Mashup听起来很耳熟，因为这个词是从音乐圈借用来，本来是指采用多种音乐元素来糅合出一首新歌的做法。在互联网行业，它是指从多个在线资源获得内容和服务，并整合成一个新的网站或在线服务。
这会表现在诸多方面。最常见的是一个网站从其他站点“借用”了一些东西来给用户提供增值服务，例如地图、天气预报、视频或图片等。
所以举例来说，与其投入大量的时间和金钱来开发一个你的酒店所在地的地图，还不如直接使用已有的电子地图，像“Google Earth”或“Multimap”都是不错的选择，直接在你的首页上放个链接就OK了。
同样地，我们还可以利用Met Office（英国著名天气预报机构）的网站来提供当地的天气预报，也可以利用YouTube或图库站点Flickr以视频、图片的形式来展示其他游客游玩的经历。
当你把所有“糅合”而来的元素融为一炉的时候，好处就不言自喻了：你网站的服务提升了，用户获益了；你“借来”的那些额外服务既能让你的网站身价陡增，还不用投入大量的时间从零开始搭建。Mashup给我们带来了无穷的可能，真是令人兴奋不已。
在一个更复杂的层面，某些网站会提供一个API（Application Programming Interface应用程序编程接口），它允许网站间更多内容的整合，能让你天衣无缝地从其他站点“借用”内容、呈现内容，而且让人看起来似乎这就是你自己的内容。
雅虎旅游网就已经采用API，这是个很好的示范。它开放内容，允许其他站点通过API来展示各种线路的详细资料。
旅游业的本质——满足顾客要求深入了解目的地、渡假村或酒店的需求，再加上高层次的创新，已经切实地刺激了Mashup技术的发展，前景广阔。
网络已成为应用和信息的平台，在不同的地方都是重要的资源，而人们与互联网相互作用的方式也在不断地变化，认识到这一点十分重要。
Mashup在各种在线发布的形式中处于核心地位。大家都知道，你今天在某个网站上发了内容，最后总会被转载到很多其他站点。
让我们把Mashup看成一个大展拳脚的机会吧——有那么多丰富的免费资源唾手可得，这些资源完全可以使你的网站更有深度、更具价值。现在搞正是时候——抢在人前赶紧动手吧！
原文链接：http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1125512.php
Are you ready for the mashup?
If there's one new web term that you need to be aware of in 2008, it's 'Mashup'.
The travel industry is one of the few sectors really leading the way with this emerging technology and it's important to get clued up now to avoid being left behind.
If the phrase sounds familiar, that's because 'mashup' has been borrowed from the music business where it refers to the practice of mixing a new song by using elements from others. In the online world it refers to taking content and services from a number of online resources in order to make a new website or online service.
This manifests itself in a number of ways. Usually it involves a web site 'borrowing' elements such as maps, weather reports, videos or images from other applications to give the user added value.
So for example, rather than investing a lot of time and money creating a street map of where your hotel is, you can simply use existing technology, such as 'Google Earth' or 'Multimap', directly on your homepage.
Similarly, the Met Office's site could be used to give a local weather report, while YouTube or an image sharing site like Flickr can be used to document past visitors' experiences through video or photos.
When all the 'mashed up' elements come together like this, the benefits become clear; users benefit from a much-improved service on your website, while the additional applications that you've 'borrowed' from allow you to punch above your weight, without having to invest a lot of time in building them from scratch. The possibilities are endless, and are extremely exciting.
At a more sophisticated level, some websites sites provide an API (Application Programming Interface) which often allows a much greater integration of content from one site with another, allowing you to 'borrow' content seamlessly from one site, and present it, branded as if it's your own.
Yahoo's Travel site has adopted the API approach and is a great example of a website opening up its content to allow other websites to display detailed information about trips in this way.
The nature of the travel industry - where customers demand depth of information about their destination, resort or hotel, combined with the high level of innovation in the sector - has really fuelled the growth of this technology, and its potential is huge.
As the web becomes a platform for applications and information, existing as resources displayed in many different places, it is important to recognise that the way we interact with the internet is changing.
Mashups are at the heart of this de-centralised approach to online publishing and we should all be aware that information we publish through one website may end up on lots of other sites.
However, view it as an exciting opportunity – there is a wealth of free resources available that can add real depth and value to your business. It is not a passing trend - get involved before you are left behind.
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