[OSM-talk] Prolification of the amenity tag

[bvh]

On Wed, Nov 29, 2006 at 06:52:59PM +0000, Ben Robbins wrote:
> So...basically instead of adding the type of building, e.g. bakers, in OSM, 
> we go to a seperate wiki to add the data?  Then we return to osm, and lay 
> the data over the top, and filter out all the bits that arnt needed on the 
> map (phone number, store owner, discriptions, specific tiyles etc)??
> Then all thats left is a tag for the building saying its a bakers, wich is 
> something that is asthetically apparent when driving/walking past, so 
> belongs on a map.  Therfore why couldnt this just have been tags, and taken 
> from osm?.

Because that would make the information less accessible for any query that
isn't of the type "draw a map of this area?" (And there shouldn't even be
a node saying that this building is a bakers in osm in my opinion)

> If someone gave me directions they may say, go past the bakers and take the 
> next right.  But no one would say, go past the building that is owned by mr 
> johnson whos phone number is....  and then go right.  Its that data that 
> only belongs on a yellowpages equivelent wiki.

None of the online maps that I know give a route description in terms of
"go past the bakers" Not even those that have that information...  And
for a very good reason : a baker might not always be as easily
recognizable (for example because it is dark). 

You'll typically get that kind of instructions because you asking a local
in a certain setting and he will only name the baker because he
knows it is easily recognizable and he will not talk about the school
nextdoors because the entrance is very unremarkable unlike the
school at the second turn which is impossible to miss. etc...

> Also if data is to be laid over the top of an OSM map from yellowwiki, then 
> each bit of information would need a position.  If someone added there 
> store to yellowwiki, and wanted the position, they could check on osm for 
> the building marked bakers, and then copy that as there position.  (Keeping 
> in mind that some people lack basic mapping skills [50% of young people in 
> the uk acording to skynews])

Someone needs to put that location in osm in the first place. Why not place
it in yellowiki instead?

> Finalyl, the example of the wifi tag.  This usualyl wouldnt appear in a 
> yellowwiki shorely?.  Also its not asthetically apparent so could be argued 

No, it would come for example from fon.com which will always be more up
to date than what could be in osm.

> against being in osm.   The reason I think it should be in, is because a 
> wifi area is an area, not a point.  Therefore it needs to be displayed 
> visually, wich is what maps are for.  If a person has a laptop on them, the 
> picking up of the wifi signal would then become apparent.  Just as a 30mph 

You are aware that the pick up area of a wifi hotspot is not static?

cu bart