> > The reason for the struggle is quite simple. The project is still > relatively > young so developers haven't yet filled your browser with rich pickings that > use OSM data. Consider this, the Ordnance survey started collecting geodata > 200 years ago. It's only in the last few years that any of its data has > been > used for routing, displaying maps on websites (via Google or others) etc > etc. > > OSM is today what the OS was 200 years ago, breaking new ground and > collecting geodata to make maps. Back then the OS did it all by hand and > hand drew maps. OSM doesn't have to draw the maps by hand any more but it > still has to gather the data, that's its role here. In future I'm sure we > will see all manner of companies and individuals using, displaying and > doing > clever things with OSM data, but Rome wasn't built in a day. > > So to answer your friends you need to explain about what makes Google and > all the other guys able to deliver their services. It's the data that > drives > them. The front end is just window dressing. (and yes I bow to all the > software developers who make very clever and nice window displays). > > Cheers > > Andy (another one)
I think there's quite an important difference between us and the OS: the data is gathered by individual users. The larger the user base, the more will contribute back to the data and the better the data will be. So I feel that the main site needs to have good functionality that brings people into the project and also keeps them there. There is a group of "casual" mappers who will mainly use the site but occasionally jump in and fix mistakes. If they get out of the habit of using the site because they like the ease of use of the competitors, we'll miss out on those contributions. It's natural that the community is dominated by serious mappers who want to leave fancy UIs and applications to others but it will strengthen the project if there is a way of merging those developments back into the main site. Personally I'd like to see routing, geocoded images, 3D buildings and ultimately "openstreetview" images, all offered by osm.org. Oliver
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