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World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:26 am
by rowyourboat
Hello, how about a map with the location of member? Just a thought..

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:40 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings RYB,
rowyourboat wrote:Hello, how about a map with the location of member? Just a thought..
If you wish to make one based on the information that people make publicly available via their profiles and postings, you're welcome.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:58 am
by rowyourboat
:) don't know how to.. I was thinking more on the lines of this site automatically generating a map based on publicly available information- maybe members could opt in. I think it builds up a sense of community.

with metta

Matheesha

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:30 am
by Kim OHara
On a similar theme ... I was wondering whether there was some way of encouraging members to give their location (even just to country level, not city) along with 'number of posts' and 'date joined'. I find it tricky to know, sometimes, how much cultural background I need to explain to make myself clear - generally more for people in non-Western countries, for instance. Also whether the person I'm talking to is likely to be a native, or fluent non-native, speaker of English.
Country information would give everyone a fairly good indication (90% reliable, not 100% of course) of both of those, and therefore help avoid misunderstandings.

:namaste:
Kim

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:57 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings Kim,

Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to make it a "mandatory field", but I'm all for promoting the idea of people sharing their location in the manner you suggest.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:02 pm
by Sanghamitta
I have updated my location.

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:30 pm
by Ytrog
Great idea :twothumbsup:

I searched for a member map using google maps, but it seems that there are no recent phpbb mods for that. :(

Maybe you can produce a KML file with all the locations and feed that to google maps.

Here are some resources for that: http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documen ... pport.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:08 pm
by rowyourboat
I think it will be quite cool thing to have actually ... we dont have to be all serious do we? :sage:

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:41 pm
by DNS
Here is this thread where people reported where they are from: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1697" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And if someone has the time, perhaps they can make a map like the one below and color in the percentages to match our current membership:

Image

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:35 pm
by mikenz66
retrofuturist wrote: Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to make it a "mandatory field", but I'm all for promoting the idea of people sharing their location in the manner you suggest.
Yes, it's challenging when someone asks "where can I find...?" without telling us where in the world they live...

:anjali:
Mike

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:52 pm
by rowyourboat
Hi David,

What you have there is a statistical map - what I had in mind was more individual dots/squares denoting where each person comes from - thus will give a sense of 'oh that's him!' rather than, the statistical average. I feel it should generate itself from the data (if that is possible), and fun to look at. Apparently the succes of iPhone apps is that they are 'fun' and not necessarily functional. App developers are openly told that they should make their apps fun, if they are going to succeed!

With metta

Matheesha

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:58 pm
by mikenz66
Someone made such a map the people could register on, and promoted it on E-Sangha some time ago. Anyone remember where it is?

:anjali:
Mike

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:39 pm
by Kim OHara
rowyourboat wrote::) don't know how to.. I was thinking more on the lines of this site automatically generating a map based on publicly available information- maybe members could opt in. I think it builds up a sense of community.

with metta
Matheesha
Hi, Matheesha, Ytrog,
Would Clustrmaps (http://www.clustrmaps.com/) or an equivalent do it?
It generates a map like this:
Screen shot Clustrmaps.png
Screen shot Clustrmaps.png (373.9 KiB) Viewed 3959 times
So it doesn't tell anyone where any individual is from, which is what I wanted, but it does give all of us a good idea of where all of us are from, which I think is what you wanted.

:namaste:
Kim

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:51 pm
by rowyourboat
Kim, yup that's it. Thank you! Now how does this fit into the DW site (if it is approved, I guess).

With mett

Re: World map

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:53 pm
by mikenz66
Hi Kim,
Kim O'Hara wrote: So it doesn't tell anyone where any individual is from, which is what I wanted, but it does give all of us a good idea of where all of us are from, which I think is what you wanted.
But the map, along with your "North Queensland" location would show where you are...
Unless we have a bunch of other members up there... :thinking:

:anjali:
Mike