[OSM-talk] UK OSM Map

[Ben Ward]

> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Accounts
>
> Please fix what's wrong and add what's missing.



I had a quick go at smoothing this.  I have added a speed bump to the front
page's Create an Account link, which takes you to the above page which
explains the accounts, then allows you to move on and create either.  The
account explanation may be useful reference, but it's overwhelming for
people who don't know the answers to things such as
"Why do I want a GPS track? I've already got my own I want to make into a
map",
"Why would I want to edit the page I'm reading? I only just arrived",
"Is my street on the map, and how do I get it on there?".

The problem here for newbies is not lack of information at all.  It's being
overwhelmed.  And a wiki always suffers from people who know a bit more than
the last guy adding their own little section or links without simplifying.

I have three different unfinished... well, unstarted... quickstart
documents.  I'm sure there are an equal number out there by other people,
possibly closer to completion.  I reckon this should be a priority as we're
getting publicity.  The last thing we want to do, though, is hide a
quickstart guide amongst hundreds of links about SVN and APIs and
planet.osmand stuff like that.  That's advanced usage, really, we need
to separate it.

Does anyone know what happened to the plan for a simplified front page? I
saw a mock-up, with a picture of a woman down a dark alley, but then it all
went quiet.

Ben

-- 
ben at crouchingbadger.com | http://crouchingbadger.com
51.717817,-1.225855
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