I'm interested in adding a Search facility to NeronGPS, using http://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/, but I'm not sure what would be the best UI, so would appreciate ideas or input on this.
I think the starting point has to be a dialog with text entry, where the user types in what they want to search for. In future there could also be voice input and voice recognition, but let's assume text entry for now. Given that, http://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/ will return a list of possible places, each with coordinates and a description, so the question is what to do with those. - We could show them all as markers on the map. But that raises the question of what to do if some of them are outside the current map. Any automatic shifting or zooming of the map might cause unwanted new downloading, and/or show areas of black for a while. Options could be: - Not shifting or zooming the map at all. The only markers that will be visible straightaway are those within the current bounds. Other markers would become visible as/when the user shifted/zoomed the map so as to cover them. - Shifting and zooming the map as much as is needed to show all the returned markers, and never mind the implications. - Shifting and zooming up to some configurable limits, so as to show as many markers as those limits allow. - Alternatively, the results could instead be shown in text form in the search dialog, with a "Go to" button for each one. In addition it would be nice to have an integration with the POI (Point of Interest) function. - All search results could automatically become POIs, or alternatively a new temporary kind of POI that only lasts until a different search is done. - If the map is on or close enough to a search result, and the user selects to make a POI, the POI name is automatically initialised from the search result description. Any thoughts? Thanks, Neil _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community