[OSM-dev] Clickable POIs - use marker/pushpin layer?

[Andy Robinson (blackadder)]

Andy Allan wrote:
>Sent: 08 January 2008 11:59 AM
>To: Richard Fairhurst
>Cc: dev at openstreetmap.org
>Subject: Re: [OSM-dev] Clickable POIs - use marker/pushpin layer?
>
>On Jan 8, 2008 11:13 AM, Richard Fairhurst <richard at systemed.net> wrote:
>> Nick Whitelegg wrote:
>> > Before I get too far with this do people think it would be better to
>> > generate a layer of markers/pushpins for the POIs or have the user
>> > click on the map directly?
>>
>> Strong preference for the latter. Markers and pushpins will make our
>> beautifully drawn map look horrid.
>
>I know where you're coming from, but it could be done subtly, if necessary.
>
>The main problem with markers (crappy icons aside) is that they
>obscure things behind them. But you could use transparent icons in
>mapnik as placeholders to prevent street names etc getting behind the
>markers, but still allow people to turn the markers on and off to see
>the roads.
>
>If you're planning on having the POIs shown permanently, then I would
>lean towards havnig them as icons though.
>

Ok, so maybe I'm off kilter here but in my mind I see the logic of having
any point on a given map return something more than a zoom change ;-) is it
feasible to have a transparent image map type layer that resolves to a query
of the information? 
I hate markers so making map content directly accessible without the need
for markers would be of real interest to me. I'm thinking of an external POI
db or info directly from OSM. A change in the mouse pointer confirms the
presence of a hotspot. What happens when it's activated would depend on what
the content was.

Cheers

Andy

>Cheers,
>Andy
>
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