I'd like to explore the idea of working on something like Factor e Farm
here in Europe, for example, but wouldn't be bowled over by the notion
of taking this sort of thing on by myself (and would there be much
point?). On the other hand, I have little or no clue as to whether or
not there are many readers from Europe in this group. Some sort of map
might make such an undertaking easier?
It might make it easier for us to collaborate if we knew where the other
is located physically, no?
Just a thought
david
--Paul Fernhout
On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 12:12:01PM +0000, Smári McCarthy wrote:
> This is part of the reason I was writing my own thing.
>
> 1) task-specific database behind it
> 2) task-specific user interface
> 3) not controlled by Google (runs on OpenStreetMap)
>
> I always bash programs like Excel for being overly generalized to
> specific tasks - Swiss Army knives are good, but they often retain
> higher complexity relative to the tool constructed exactly for the
> purpose of achieving the goal. Google Maps, while great, is overly
> generalized.
This sounds interesting. Feel free to keep me/us posted.
Even if your map is primarily for resource/equipment finding, I guess :
where the equipment and tools are, the people can't be far away anyway?
There are similar existing initiatives, but they seem to either have
technical shortcomings, or be motivated by a broader agenda that I am
reluctant to endorse or become involved in. For example :
- http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/ - not open-source; have to select
tools from a pre-defined list (which is quite limiting); doesn't
allow you to specify the details about a resource (e.g. someone has
a wrench - but is it metric, or imperial? What's the jaw-size?
etc.); search radius is limited to about 10 miles
- http://www.whopools.net/ - no map (the last time I checked at least -
but at least it's open-source, so perhaps one could be added, or it
could be forked); mostly about resources, rather than people
- http://www.zeitgeistresources.com/ - don't know much about this, but
the Zeitgeist Movement / Venus project has a certain amount of baggage
associated with it that I'm reluctant to associate myself with (at
least until I learn more about it)
I share your concerns about using google maps, but - personally - I
would quite likely be willing to use it anyway - at least for the moment.
Having choices might be a good thing?
Using openstreetmap/openlayers makes perfect sense I think BTW.
david
--Paul Fernhout
Hi Nathan,
Nathan W. Cravens wrote:
> You're designing a web app, right?
Yes
> And it does this?:
> 1) a way for people to source materials
No.
Not because I don't want to add that feature, just isn't the focus as is.
> 2) a way for people to access fabrication tools, workshops, hacker
> spaces etc
Yes.
But mostly, it just tells you where these are and what terms there are
for use.
> Thanks Smári, this is a greatly needed foundational item.
No prob. Thank me when it's done. Things like this tend not to receive
the attention they deserve.
- Smári
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Why not just use a file with a list of coordinates and a description
of what's at that point? Presentation layer can come later .. tons of
Google-Maps script-kiddies running around out there already. :-)