[OSM-talk] what to do cues

[Robin Paulson]

On 2012-12-31 18:54, Jeff Meyer wrote:
> Are there any tools that can tip users to what they could do in a
> particular map area?
>
> For example, for a given bb(zoom>some min) in a browser window, is
> there anything that says:
> - Hey, relative to other (or selected best-practice examples) areas
> like the one youre viewing, this area has:
>   -- Fewer addresses - learn how to add
>   -- Fewer buildings - learn how to add
>   -- Fewer POIs - learn how to add
>   -- POIs that would normally have buildings, but dont (e.g. schools)
>
>   -- Zorro Ways - learn how to fix
>   -- Theres a park with no trails - learn how to add
>   -- etc.
>
> In general, Im thinking of something that will help new users answer
> the question, "How can I help?," particularly for their local hood

the problem with that is that it makes osm rather more conservative 
than it perhaps wants to be. newbies, who come to the project with less 
ideas about 'how things are, and how things should be' are one useful 
avenue for critique of what we do, why and how. steering them into a way 
which says what we think they can do will possibly decrease that, which 
would be our loss and theirs

the more flippant answer to what they could map would be to suggest 
they look at the map, then walk round a neighbourhood and record what 
they think is relevant and not already mapped. all the hints are there 
already,

whenever someone asks me "what should i map?" i say "well, what do you 
think is important, what matters to you, what interests you?", rather 
than giving them a list of what i think matters, or what i have been 
indoctrinated to believe 'should' be on a map

-- 
robin

http://universitywithoutconditions.ac.nz - Auckland's Free University