12 replies to this topic

[JimBlakeslee]

Erin had asked me a post a link to an interactive map. Here is one that the client has just launched.

http://www.oceancity.com/map/map.php

It was built in Macromedia Flash MX 2004. The map layers are imported as external SWFs and the point information comes from an XML file, so the information can stay current.

I'd be interested in the forums thoughts on the usability of the map, readability in different browsers, etc.

Jim Blakeslee
Geocentric

[ELeFevre]

Hey Jim,
I can't seem to get the map to pull up? Anyone else experiencing the same thing? I'm guessing maybe your playing around with it at the moment. I'll try again later. Could be my connection? By the way, I just checked out your maps (again) on your website...great work! very inspiring! Erin

[Hans van der Maarel]

Can't even connect to oceancity.com from here

[JimBlakeslee]

Is anyone else experiencing problems? It is working here and now for me.

[Nick Springer]

It workied for me in Firefox, but not IE6. It seems to stick on loading www.oceancity.com/map/map.php

The scroll bar navigation is interesting. At first I was concerned about the usability of this since the map moves horizontally as well as vertically. But once I used it it was fast and simple and overall I like it.

I wonder if there is someway to dress up the list and/or connect the items with the map better. Maybe add the smae colored square in the list, and maybe even add numbers to the map and list (which you could do dynamically with your xml).

I especially like this map because I am going to Ocean City in about a month!

[Nick Springer]

Now, if you could tie this in with all the hotel and rental listings...

[JimBlakeslee]

Thanks for the extra eyes. Yes, there is a typo in the HTML that breaks the flash in IE. (a filename is wrong in the OBJECT tag but correct in the EMBED tag). I notified them and I'm sure they'll fix it soon. (UPDATE: it is now fixed)

Nick, yes I think the client will be adding more hotels and etc. in the future and doing a separate map for property rentals as well. Ah, the power of data driven maps!

Great ideas on better linking the list with the map.

Have fun in Ocean City! I am taking the kids to Bethany myself in August.

[Hans van der Maarel]

Eh... it did load this time, but then it started opening browser windows like crazy (this is on Firefox 1.0.2), so I killed it after 54 windows.

[Rick Dey]

Opens fine for me in Firefox and Camino, the Navbar doesn't render except in rollover in Safari. Current version of Flash is 7,0,24,0.

I like the scroll bar and how it follows the road direction, slick.

[Martin Gamache]

Opened fine for me in IE6...comments to follow

[Claude]

nice map. i esp like the reverse functionality of clicking on a hotel name on the left and having the location highlighted on the map. worked great for me in Firefox and IE 6

[Martin Gamache]

Jim,

I really like the interractive functions built into your map. I would suggest using a more pictographic icon for your restaurants and hotels rather than the relatively large overlapping and street name hiding squares you have now. Something more intuitive than a blue or pink square. If you had a black fork (restaurants) and a black little building (hotels) you could have it highlight in a color for easy finding when scrolling on the list. I do like the growing white circle but it is hard to see. I really like that the names of the business pops up on mouse overs.

mg

[ELeFevre]

Jim,
The scrolling and menu features are really slick and interesting. It takes a second to figure out how it works, but after that, it's smooth. It wouldnt hurt to add the map symbols (little squares) to the menu, so users know exactly what they are looking at. Maybe you could devise a small legend and place it in the open space to the left?

I was also thinking you could add a small image of the entire map somewhere on the page, just to show it's extent. Nice work. Erin