Photo: Engadget
After declared missing and days of searching, James Kim, 35, C|Net senior editor of digital audio, is found dead in the wilderness of Oregon. James is survived by a wife, Katie and two young daughters, Penelope and Sabine who were with him on their Thanksgiving road trip to Pacific Northwest. The tragic incident happened when the car stranded and James had to leave the family looking for help in extreme winter weather.
Besides C|Net, James Kim is well-known in the tech community from his days in TechTV. He hosted Call for Help and Fresh Gear shows. Throughout his career, Kim has provided us with 400 product reviews, helping us consumers making informed decisions on wide array of competing audio player products!
C|Net has posted the memoriam video expressing condolences and displaying some of Kim's review on CNet. More diggs from his TechTV mate Kevin Rose, who is now famous for his Diggnation. Engadget has been posting series of entries on Kim's updates. The volume of condolences, eulogy, and grievances signify how much Kim is missed by the tech community.
For us, a lesson learned from this incident is to always ask local residents on routes, especially if you are doing traveling in the US. Here's the wikipedia posting on Kim highlighting the limitations of online mapping, i.e. GoogleMap, MapQuest, YahooMap:
" Some observers believe that the Kim tragedy highlights the limitations of Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest, and other online mapping applications. Because the Kims, who did not know the area, had telephoned from Roseburg, Oregon to a motel in Gold Beach, to say that they would be arriving late, it was speculated that James Kim, a technology expert, used online mapping to find the “fastest” route between Roseburg and Gold Beach.
During the hunt for the Kims, a number of computer users tested programs such as Google Maps and MapQuest to map the shortest route between the two towns. The programs reportedly listed Bear Creek Road, where the Kims got stuck, as the most efficient shortcut. However, it is rarely used even by local residents due to its difficult terrain and inclement weather.[11]
The online mapping programs have apparently changed and as of December 7, 2006, show the drive along Highways 5 and 42 to Coast Highway 101 as the preferred route between Roseburg and Gold Beach.
Outdoor writer Tom Stienstra of the San Francisco Chronicle, although he did not blame the Kims for their ordeal, wrote a list of safety tips in which he recommended that travelers always ask local residents for road information.[12] " Wikipedia
I can't agree more to this limitation as I had to rely on GPS rather than the printed maps from MapQuest I had planned to use for driving directions in Folsom, Phoenix, and Hillsboro. There were instances when when my colleague was misdirected to a dead end location which as closed down 3 years back on his trip to California.
I would like to extend my condolences to Kim's family on his demise. Kim will be known as a great tech reviewer with huge fan base and a loving family man. Rest In Piece.
Updated the map page to use Google maps. You can now link right to Google maps and enter your address for directions, zoom in and out, use the terrain setting or satellite setting.
Posted by: mapquest | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 01:05 PM