tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896653854399647.post7923226368838467838..comments2024-03-19T08:43:55.574+00:00Comments on Google Earth Design: Placemark Clustering: GeoCubes and Barry HunterRich Treveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00074610839485450953noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896653854399647.post-69044998495047934562009-07-24T15:28:39.600+01:002009-07-24T15:28:39.600+01:00This is an email from Ronny Koch from geocubes tha...This is an email from Ronny Koch from geocubes that he said I could put up. His comments are marked '>', my replies are unmarked.<br /><br />Ronny Koch wrote:<br />> Hi Richard,<br />><br />> first I have to say that we are always happy about reviews and also<br />> positive feedbacks about geocubes. I find that your pros and cons are<br />> okay but of course design issues are always a subjective assessment but<br />> this is totally okay.<br />> <br /><br />Ronny,<br /><br />It's true that I don't have user tests as evidence based for my comments so they are subjective but they are based on my experience of web usability, cartography and informational graphics design.<br /><br />> Basically you may know that geocubes is only the provider of the<br />> clustering technology. We always try to develop our API so that<br />> everyone's wishes and ideas of what concerns the design and the<br />> functionality can be adapt with geocubes. Among the cons are mainly<br />> issues of design, which is always in the hands of the website operator<br />> to change such things. Our customers can find examples of integration on<br />> our website, that can be changed very easy and flexbile.<br />> <br /> <br />A good point. However, I think it is good service design to 'nudge' (a book title on a related subject) people in the right direction of good design. This would mean good design would come as a default with your service but if the customer wished they could still customize your service in any way they wished. Its similar to the criticism of PowerPoint by Edward Tufte:<br /> http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html<br />He points out that it's within the power of the user to design their PowerPoint presentations well but the PowerPoint defaults and wizards push the user towards bad design. His conclusion is that Powerpoint itself is therefore at fault.<br /><br />At present I don't think geocubes is nudging people towards good design.<br /><br />However, that being said, I think you have developed a service that meets a definite need in the community in an accessible way. I think that your work deserves recognition. You are correct that it would be possible to produce a map meeting my criticisms from your service. In fact Barry Hunter has said he's interested in doing just that.<br /><br />Interested to see the other integrations you list.Rich Treveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00074610839485450953noreply@blogger.com