+1 for use of the word "muggle" On Jul 20, 2013 1:47 AM, "Bryce Nesbitt" <bry...@obviously.com> wrote:
> > > On Mon, Jul 8, 2013 at 9:41 PM, Guillaume Pratte < > guilla...@guillaumepratte.net> wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> I have been a serious user of OpenStreetMap for less than six months, and >> I am proud to recently have achieved my one hundredth contribution to the >> project. I really love the OpenStreetMap project, and I would like to >> replace my daily usage of Google Maps with OpenStreetMap. >> >> But it just seems I cannot. Anybody else feel the same issues? > > > I feel the same issues. But at the same time I think it unwise to try and > play catch-me-if-you-can with Google. > There are many tasks where OSM is better than Google Maps. I use OSM > gladly for things like: > > * Natural area trail maps or tracking. > * Non-commercial POIs (e.g. toilets, drinking water, viewpoints, tourist > oddities, fun stuff) > * Detailed maps in pedestrian zones. > * Printing > * Mapping fun. > > ------------------------ > > To date OSM is run by a group of mappers that caters to mappers. There is > an unlikely but burning desire to somehow turn more ordinary muggles into > mappers. It is as if the map was meant to be made, not used: > and it's working. Of the people I talk to and show OpenStreetMap, the > vast majority have never even heard of it, and that includes land > management, GIS professionals, teachers and engineers all who could in > theory be interested. > > What would drive more mapping would in fact be more passive users: some > percentage will survive the test of fire on the tagging list and become > mappers. OSM could offer high quality print exports, or > one-click embeddable maps, or a dozen other compelling services. But > someone would have to pay for all that bandwidth and user support, in order > to glean a few more true believer mappers. > > _______________________________________________ > talk mailing list > talk@openstreetmap.org > http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk > >
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