[Wikimedia-l] The failure of Google, looking for open source alternatives

[Romaine Wiki]

Google is throwing the Wikipedia layer out of Google Maps under the guise of "improvement", while it actually sets several steps back in time. It is like going to the Middle Ages instead of the future. It shows that commercial companies do not make decisions by looking what people like, need and want, but let the end users down. In the past such changes in software always was a moment for me to consider if there are alternatives and if possible to switch over to them.

Considering this for finding a Wikipedia layer on maps, I do not know any. But I do know there is an open source alternative, just like Wikipedia, but then for maps, OpenStreetMap.

We already work together in some way, we use the maps of OpenStreetMap in our Toolserver maps when we click on the coordinates on articles.

Unfortunately I couldn't find any layer for Wikipedia on http://openstreetmap.org

I think it would be good if we as Wikimedia would broaden our use of and connections with OpenStreetMap and let both communities work together more.

(It is unlikely to happen I think, but OpenStreetMap would be perfectly under the wing of WMF, just as Wikivoyage.)

We should strive on working together with OpenStreetMap, we supplement each other.


Romaine