Comments on: Beyond Broadcasting: Mapping Public Media http://highearthorbit.com/beyond-broadcasting-mapping-public-media/ Transmitting ideas, observations, and images from 42,000 km. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:26:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Build the Echo » Blog Archive » links for 2008-06-20 http://highearthorbit.com/beyond-broadcasting-mapping-public-media/#comment-190115 Build the Echo » Blog Archive » links for 2008-06-20 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:30:39 +0000 http://highearthorbit.com/?p=1041#comment-190115 [...] Beyond Broadcasting: Mapping Public Media :: High Earth Orbit (tags: beyondbroadcast public_media) [...] [...] Beyond Broadcasting: Mapping Public Media :: High Earth Orbit (tags: beyondbroadcast public_media) [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://highearthorbit.com/beyond-broadcasting-mapping-public-media/#comment-189922 Andrew Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:28:13 +0000 http://highearthorbit.com/?p=1041#comment-189922 I agree on all accounts. Especially that there is still a lot of UX/Design effort that has to work to help guide the future of these tools. A mixture of GIS, Cartography, Interaction Design, and Usability have to converge together. There is currently a (hopefully) falling wall of "slap maps on sites" just for the sake of maps. Interaction designers are thinking now about what the purpose of a particular map interface is: search, exploration, visualization, etc. and then design the interface appropriately. Regarding the general "public desire" for maps, looking at the interest in using light-weight placemarking tools for quick dropping of points or hikes demonstrates this. At least, a rising trend for people being able to "mark their territory" whether it be literally bounds of their travels, or more psychogeographical demarcations ("pretty sunset here") I agree on all accounts. Especially that there is still a lot of UX/Design effort that has to work to help guide the future of these tools. A mixture of GIS, Cartography, Interaction Design, and Usability have to converge together.

There is currently a (hopefully) falling wall of “slap maps on sites” just for the sake of maps. Interaction designers are thinking now about what the purpose of a particular map interface is: search, exploration, visualization, etc. and then design the interface appropriately.

Regarding the general “public desire” for maps, looking at the interest in using light-weight placemarking tools for quick dropping of points or hikes demonstrates this. At least, a rising trend for people being able to “mark their territory” whether it be literally bounds of their travels, or more psychogeographical demarcations (”pretty sunset here”)

]]> By: James Thornett http://highearthorbit.com/beyond-broadcasting-mapping-public-media/#comment-189890 James Thornett Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:34:38 +0000 http://highearthorbit.com/?p=1041#comment-189890 Do you really think that the "The tools have become approachable and the public comfortable, even expecting, rich cartographic interfaces and exploration." ? I'd agree that the visual tools for displaying geographical content/data are become very commonplace on interactive platforms but it still feels to me that the UX/design community has plenty of challenges ahead in making people feel comfortable when using these rich interfaces. I've seen too often that developers/designers get very focussed on the possibilities of using maps/mapping and lose sight of the most important bit - making the most of the content or data. Do you really think that the “The tools have become approachable and the public comfortable, even expecting, rich cartographic interfaces and exploration.” ?

I’d agree that the visual tools for displaying geographical content/data are become very commonplace on interactive platforms but it still feels to me that the UX/design community has plenty of challenges ahead in making people feel comfortable when using these rich interfaces.

I’ve seen too often that developers/designers get very focussed on the possibilities of using maps/mapping and lose sight of the most important bit - making the most of the content or data.

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