Thanks Samuel for comments, currently ShareMap maps can be viewed in 3 ways
1. As interactive map (using flash), user can click markers view images/videos 2. As static SVG file (using SVG rendition built in modern browser) 3. As static JPEG (that can be viewed on virtually any graphic browser)
That the current state of published version, in our internal development version we are evaluating other map rendition scenarios - both HTML5 compliant, one of them may be potential rendition engine for Wikipedia
1. HTML5 interactive rendition (similar to Google Maps, OpenLayers)
We are evaluation two ways of implementation - Leaflet (good compatibility, possible performance problems, more lightweight than OpenLayers) and creating custom Canvas based component (worst compatibility, better performance)
-PROS * Will work flawlessly on mobile devices * Technological purity (important in Wikipedia integration) * Possibility of using 3D in future using WebGL (already possible in flash)
-CONS * Not very important on desktop, because 97% of users has Flash (based on site first visit statistics) - in this case limited time of ShareMap developers can be spend in better way * Compatibility problem of canvas solution * Worst performance with large datasets of vector data than Flash
2. Interactive SVG renditions that can be flawlessly embedded inside normal HTML page
-PROS * Possibility of creating interactive animated maps that does not have any external dependencies. Atomic files can be saved on disk, stored at Wiki Commons. User only need modern browser to view i older browser SVG plugin can be installed * User can modify map without using ShareMap - just by editing JavaScript and shapes inside SVG
-CONS * Not very good adoption of SVG in browsers on older Android mobile devices (smaller problem on Android 3/4) * Embedding video in SVG is not straightforward * In some scenarios performance problem
I hope that in two weeks we will be able to show some mock up demonstration of integration ShareMap with sample Wikipedia article. I be very happy to receive feedback from members of this mailing list.
In the meanwhile ShareMap team is working on implementing last missing features in ShareMap editor (which is in Flash and we have no plans to move it to other technology)
1. Map animation with dates time line (for historical mapping)
2. Map calibration mechanism to trace Public Domain raster maps (ie. topographic and historical) (this modules utilizes GDAL library server side)
3. Tool for designing interactive map boxes - legend, info bubbles etc.
Regards J.K.
W dniu 2/20/12 6:20 AM, Samuel Klein pisze:
This is a very, very cool project.
Thank you for sharing, Hugo and Jakub.
On Sat, Feb 18, 2012 at 6:26 PM, ShareMapcontact@sharemap.org wrote:
- Map embedding as interactive SVG (or in future maybe HTML5 Canvas with
WebGL 3D support).
This is how you do it at sharemap.org now? Do you have examples of different implementations of this?
What we need from Wikipedia Community:
- Quick adaptation of direct SVG embedding inside Wikipedia (MediaWiki
engine) 2. Help from volunteers in testing, evaluating and development.
< 3. Help with infrastructure ... to run special instance of ShareMap environment
on Wikimedia infrastructure and dedicated for creation [of] map for wikipedia.
Can you set up a wiki page that describes in a bit mor detail what each of these would involve?
- What is still needed here?
- Where can volunteers sign up?
- What might the system requirements be?
You also mentioned wanting support for scholarships or internships for people to help work on the project. You can submit a specific proposal for this or for infrastructure, for grant funding from the Wikimedia Foundation:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants
You may also be able to get support directly from local Wikimedia chapters, though the process there is not as clear (just write to them individually). The largest chapter is Wikimedia Deutschland (wikimedia.de), where there is a very active mapping community.
Sam.
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