We faced two options when we developed our online map: Go with the AJAX technology (although when we started planning it, I don't think google maps was not even around!), or go with Java applet technology. It seems that we are the only NZ Java applet based map around. Whether it was the right decision or not remains to be seen, but the main advantages that pushed us in the Java Applet technology direction were:

1) very small packet sizes. Once the map is loaded, each "view" is around 10-15kb of vector info (as opposed to a bitmap image of the map) or less which makes for an instantaneous update, even on dial-up it's fast.
2) use vector on the servers. Makes it easy to update layers independantly and keeps the server requirements quite low. We can handle rather a lot of traffic quite easily with a minimum of servers.
3) Freedom to design the interaction (ie navigation) however we wanted. Animated zooming, intuitive mouse interaction on both the map and the overview.
4) The possibility of reusing the Java applet code for other uses later on (eg, mobile phones, cross platform thin client).
5) easy to add 3rd party layers.

Of course there are some downsides too, but as I said, it remains to be seen if we made the right choice.

Conor Boyd wrote:
I'm not dissing TUMONZ Online in any way, but www.zoomin.co.nz and http://maps.google.com both have street map information for NZ (Google just got updated this week), Alan.
 
C.


From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Alan Rose
 
Hey nice work Phil. I've now bookmarked this as my new favourite online map. I've been house hunting lately and having a online map has been real handy finding locations. Perhaps you could get some sort of hook-up with real-estate websites (trademe etc)
 
 

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Phil Middlemiss
 
Do you like the interface on the TUMONZ Live mapplet (www.tumonz.co.nz/mapplet.php)? We are overhauling the whole TUMONZ interface for version 3 and using the mapplet navigation style. One thing we have realised as TUMONZ 2 has grown - it has become difficult to use cause we just added stuff to it all the time. We are spending a lot of time on getting the GUI right this time so if you want to be part of the beta program, any feedback you can provide will be welcome.

_______________________________________________ Delphi mailing list [email protected] http://ns3.123.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/delphi


begin:vcard
fn:Phil Middlemiss
n:Middlemiss;Phil
org:Vision Software, MTS Ltd
email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
title:Project Leader
tel;work:+64 7 3480001
tel;cell:+64 27 4592648
x-mozilla-html:TRUE
url:http://www.tumonz.co.nz
version:2.1
end:vcard

_______________________________________________
Delphi mailing list
[email protected]
http://ns3.123.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/delphi

Reply via email to