"They want to really characterize the parts list of the brain and map all its circuits to see how they connect and communicate, " said neurobiologist Ed Boyden at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

WSJ: Paul Allen Gives $300 Million to Brain Research

Imagine walking the streets of an unfamiliar city on a business trip, calling up an address from a list of contacts and then getting a map showing your location and the location of where you're going.

FORBES: A Phone That Finds You

The locator helps you view the stores through a map view or list view and helps you search for stores based on your needs.

ENGADGET: Starbucks Android app gets caffeinated update, also launches in UK and Canada

For the first phase of this project, the USDA selected an initial list of 27 programs to use as examples for the Compass and map.

FORBES: Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Data

"Most websites include a long laundry list of written driving directions or picture of a map that are static and hard to use, " continued Wong.

ENGADGET: Telenav Scout for Apps comes to Android and Windows Phone, Scout Drive Button released for website-based nav

You could see Flickr photos, recent muggings, local news stories and home foreclosures on your street, viewed as a map, list or RSS feed.

CNN: NBC News shuts down hyperlocal site EveryBlock

The Hollywood hype helped put 23-year-old Bebe, once just another obscure retailer, on the national map--and land the number two spot on the FORBES list of 200 Best Small Companies in America this year.

FORBES: Entrepreneur as Stunt Man

The Hollywood hype helped put 23-year-old Bebe, once just another obscure retailer, on the national map--and become a star performer on the FORBES GLOBAL list of the world's 300 best small companies this year.

FORBES: Entrepreneur as stunt man

Instead of another endless vertical list, mind-mapping organizes concepts and tasks in a colorful web that looks a bit like a public transit map.

FORBES: 5 Best Apps for Getting and Staying Organized