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Seeking a Computer Genius
One of our members asked if we could have a place where members can post places to visit, eat, tour, etc. This topic is the catchall for those kinds of posts. Where it falls short is as it expands into many threads it becomes impossible to use the advice for trip planning because it is spread around so much.
A map with pins in locations would be ideal if the map allowed users to click on the pins and that click takes you to a thread or an information box. I checked with our web guy and it can be done. There is an expense associated with doing it, but since has the potential to be a real asset to the site and our members what I would like is a discussion about how to set it up so it is easy to use, so members themselves add the pins and the narrative or links to a thread. It has to be so user friendly that I can figure out how to use its features which is no easy requirement to meet.
So here is your chance to do some blue sky thinking to outline what is possible, what would work best for us members, and may even have layers so discount fuel locations could be on a layer, RV parks on a layer, service locations on a layer, etc. We would want our advertisers to show up on all layers, after all this site is here because of them.
The floor is yours……….
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15 Replies
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but I am pretty good at bullshitting.
I like Jon’s idea. These types of maps are being used all over the place. I think RV Wizard is a good example. There it is used for creating trips.
if you google “how to create a map with pins” you are being given many examples and options. This is not an unusual project. Many firms use such maps to show where their dealers are located etc. Many of these maps are for free and many are the DYI kind. You create your map and past THEIR code into your web page.
It is up to the web guru to decide what type of code he would accept because, without having looked at the examples deeply enough, I should imagine that free ones will come with advertising. Surely, we do not want that.
Most of these pin maps show the entire USA and Canada and you have to drill down to get to an acceptable level of “local” details.
Anyways, this looks like a fairly easy project.
Jon already said the web guru confirms this can be done. I think it should be left to him because it needs to be integrated into the PC website. Unless, he allows an external link.
Cheers,
Ronald
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Ronald pretty much covered the easiest and quickest way to do this.
You can create the map in Google Maps and allow users to add POI’s with links to the threads in the forums. Or the admin can manage that and only make the map vieweable to users.
The Fuel Discount Program uses pretty much exactly this to show where we can get $0.10 or $05 off fuel using our cards. They manage the map’s POI’s ad details for each one.
Letting the community add to the map means there is the possibility for incorrect data (links, etc..) to be added to the maps, however, it allows for greater information sharing. Making it so only the Admin can add to the map means more effort to manage the map by a single person (or small group).
No reason to re-invent the wheel for something like this and the cost shouldnt be that much from your web guy (really just adding a page with an embedded google map is all that is needed on your side, let Google manage the rest).
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Have a category with threads and posts with the name of the place recommended with brief comments and the longitude and latitude.
From that admin would include it in/on the map verbatum, modified or not at all.
In that way, hackers and or grouches would not insert negative/BS information into the website.
Admin must remain in control.
Example; someone inserts information that would have no bearing on the purpose of the map and it being concealed until your cursor were over the bubble would virtually be unknown to an inocent viewer until clicking the bubble to view. More on that, someone could insert a porn video into the map.
JIM
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a link to POG … ha ha.
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Ronald, now ya donnit….your annual membership dues will probably double next year !
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OK, maybe I should have spelled it out. Tom and I don’t want to add more work for ourselves.
We want the map(s) to be member driven, member editied, member controlled. What none of us can do is screen each pin or site because we don’t know if a place is good or bad, and we have to rely on the members to be accurate or at least objective.
What I am looking for, and I hope Tom adds his comments also is for you members to throw out ideas as to the scope, if we need limitations, how we stop some dirt road campground with 30 amp power from posting a rave review, how we stop a hacker from posting adult toy stores, or how we can make it so simple that we get a lot of activity so it becomes a valuable tool.
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Somebody must be the “owner” and the “administrator”.
I just now created a quick and dirty map using the Google map engine. There is a features limited free version and a subscription based Pro version @ $50 per months.
The Pro version allows you to have many layers, which would satisfy the needs envisioned for such a PC map.
I created the map and shared it with myself. I ldid not lock the map. That means, if I were to share the map with anyone of you, you could edit the pins on such a map. Not very desirable.
I have not explored this very much. Perhaps, there are other ways to secure the map as well as to allow others to add content.
I am beginning to think that this will be just slightly more complicated than I hoped for.
From what I have seen so far, an owner/administrator is always required. Somebody who takes charge of this and controls it, too.
That should not really be any of the members because it requires a serious comittment to keep the map updated at all times. Who has the time for that?
An alternative could be to assign this task to the web guru but that could be opening a can of worms because he or she is not working for free. Neither Jon nor Tom want to pay for this and that is understandable. If they pay for this, then what is next?
Perhaps, Jon or Tom will talk to the guru to determine what the cost would be for such a on-going map project and tell us. Then WE could, … gasp …, think about contributing to the cost? We could have Jon/Tom open a PayPal account for that purpose?
Just thinking out loud.
Cheers,
Ronald
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Jon, couldn’t you tie the map data and program to the PC membership roster or have to be signed into PC to see or edit the map.
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While I appreciate Ron’s comments about covering the cost, that is not the issue. Tom does more work on behalf of PC than I do because he is the financial guy and is in regular contact with advertisers, he does billing, and he helps them post ads, coaches for sale etc. I spend some time every day on the site and I typically approve members, answer requests from members for their passwords, plus try to read every post to make sure the site is not used inappropriately. My point is we don’t want to administer or moderate any more than we do now.
Our members have clearly shown they are very respectful of one another, they never give us a reason to feel we have to delete posts or edit posts, and I would suspect if we had a map members could post to they would do a great job of acting responsibly. But speaking for myself I would not want the burden of checking every new “pin” and the associated comments. I know Alicia and I think Brian put a lot of work into the fuel discount maps. They are a lot of work. But if we can somehow limit access to pin to a map to members only, everybody could contribute the effort to post and pin places and comment on them.
How to police the maps? I have no clue, except to point out the obvious which is if they need policing they likely would have to be taken from the site.
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So only members can view this feature. Maybe members could
police it by doing something like Craigslist. If anything posted on the map is
flagged by more than “X” number of members as incorrect, misleading or inapproate then the OP has “X” number of hours to correct it or it’s automatically removed. In addition probably some
type of 0 to five star rating could be added.Ken
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Ken, the entire contents of our site is open for public viewing and the maps we are discussing would be as well. What we do restrict is that we only allow members to post because in that way if the opportunity to post is abused we can block the IP address.
My concern about maps and their potential for abuse goes in both directions. In one case the owner of Harvey’s Bait Shop and French Cuisine could register under various names and make a series of glowing posts regarding his restaurant. We sure do not need to plan a stop at a restaurant that has been wrongly hyped. The flip side of that problem is a member can have a bad experience at an otherwise excellent restaurant or RV park and the bad review would keep folks away from what could be a very nice experience. I think dealing with the examples would be to allow open discussion so members can read posts and decide for themselves.
We want good guidance, but just need to be sure our members aren’t misled.
I like the star rating system. I think the key to making some form of mapping and rating would be to get a very high number of members participating because then the posts at either extreme would be averaged out by the majority.
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Good point Jon. How many times have each of us read online reviews of restaurants, bars, stores….or even reviews on a specific it purchased. We still will formulate our own idea of wheather or not we wish to proceed. Not everyone at everytime will think a particular restaurant is as fabulous as the next, and so we give it a go. Same holds true about RV sites….its in the eye of the beholder. Many, many sites offer an option of posting ratings, or experiences…weather it be an online aution, recipe, tool purchase etc.
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This
could easily be setup as a private topic or function and only
registered members could view it. Then the policing becomes easy as
it would be members only. All
great idea’s, keep them coming, this would be a huge benefit to
members.
I’m
just wrapping up a long 5 week trip and it would have been great to
view a map and choose a place to stay without ending up at some
campground made for 35 footers. What is lacking in the big rig book
is overhead tree problems and driveway’s made almost impossible for
big rig’s to maneuver. I for one will NOT curb my new Michelins or
run over objects just to get into a site. All the crummy sites I
visited could have been noted for others to see. -
Here is an example of one I have looked at and I think it is a good place to get an idea of what might work.
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