Why not, in some cases, they are the easy way out. And google is sophisticated enough to figure things out so no worry in terms of SEO.
But they suck for people who surf without images for faster page downloading, and for the blind. You CAN use an image map, if it's sitting on for example a list (like if the map is for navigation). People without images, bots, the blind, they will simply navigate through the list like they always do. People with images and CSS will see a cool "image map." If you disregard the popup idea here, you can see a "map" which is really an image sitting on a list: http://mikecherim.com/experiments/css_map_pop.php The links in the list are positioned with CSS, so they sit in certain parts of the "map" and so do the same function as an html image map. If one insists on a real image map, at LEAST add title to the links, not just alt-text. Then mouse users will see something they can read. I once tried to navigate through a baby-and-kid clothing site, which was wholly built in image maps. While I could keyboard through the links themselves, I had no idea what I was clicking on except when the address of the link was obvious (looking at the bottom of my browser). There was NO need for that.
The only things I can think to use them for, are things I can immediately think of better alternatives for.
Ok guys ... I'm going to share with you an idea I had in mind and would love to have your views. If you head over to my site, on the far left, you'll notice some colored words. I was planning to use those as an image map to the categories of blogposts/articles. Would love your inputs (and rationale) on this. Much appreciated. P.S While you're at it, would love if you can comment on the 1st impressions of the design of the page and ways to improve it.
Ah, that's a Tag Cloud. You can make a proper tag could with some scripts like php ON TOP OF semantic html. This article sucks, but it gives you the general idea: http://webdesign.about.com/od/csstutorials/a/aa011407.htm Ignore her font-weight: 200 etc; there are numbers from 100 to 900 but only two weights, "normal" and "bold." Instead, change colour and font size-- maybe even font itself too. Start with an unordered list, give each either an id or a class name (depending on other lists on your site), and then whatever you want to use as your measuring stick (pageviews, most importance, whatever), plug that into a script to change your css automatically-- or do it by hand without a script if you want. Make a normal html list, and you can make it look all crazy, tilted and funny places with css and image replacement too. Image replacement's necessary if you want to keep the tilting. If you choose that, do it the right way: http://www.mezzoblue.com/tests/revised-image-replacement/
Only thing I use iMapping for now is custom myspace layouts. Otherwise, it generally is not good practice on regular websites.
I still use image maps on budget sites that I don't want to spend the time creating fully accessible navigation for, but I always provide text links too so that the visually impaired can still navigate around the site and so that search engine bots have a way to get to the content pages.
I haven't seen them used on sites for ages... I've personally only used an imagemap once, for a clickable map of Australia.
We use them for Zvents Work like a charm but they are automated. Not work trying to manually create them.