[OSM-talk] N00b experiences

[Christoph Eckert]

Hi Nick,

> The OSM applet is the first port of call for most users of OSM. I am
> particularly pleased the OSM Applet is more usable as the applet in
> it's previous state done more harm than good. (The applet probably
> still does more harm than good as the user can't see way consistency
> and directionality, the interface is underdeveloped).

for me it seemed more that the server is slow, or my provider had a 
problem. I guess if the data is echanged fast enough, the applet does a 
good job for the beginner (though [ and ] are a bit unlucky, they're 
reachable as Alt Gr 8 and 9 on a german keyboard).

> Christoph, there can be a 48 hour delay between uploading your GPX
> tracks and them being visible in the applet. The applet downloads
> cached tiles pre-rendered with the GPS points. The cache expires
> after 48 hours. Although now you have discovered the more powerful
> tools, you'll probably avoid the applet except where you need
> Landsat.

As others already have pointed out, I learned the landsat isn't useful 
when creating streets in a city. So I do not depend on this 
feature :) .

> Sadly, new users are neglected. They are neglected because we
> seasoned users are using tools other than what new users are
> presented with. We therefore don't experience on a daily basis the
> frustrations new users experience. Because we don't experience these
> problems on a daily basis, we forget about the problems. The
> consequence is that the problems don't get fixed and users quit.

Though I'm new to openstreetmap, I'm not new to the world of free 
software and free content. Thus I can deal with all this stuff (thanks 
to this list, BTW :) .
As always in the free software world, we're lacking people who can 
contribute code. As mentioned in this thread, an AJAX interface would 
really be cool, but someone needs to rise his hand and tell us that he 
can and is willing to do it. So let's wait :) .


Thanks for your contributions,


ce