Openstreetmap-carto: Guidepost and Map Icon

[Schwitzd]

Dear All
From my point of view the icon of guidepost and maps could be improved, with something more clear, like:

guidepost: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/images/9/91/Guidepost_doubleguidepost.png
map: http://arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/ewr/whaf/Explore/img/basemap.png

links are only examples... but would be nice to have an icon more specific.

G4rp

[HolgerJeromin]

just for reference: you probably mean osm elements with information=guidepost and information=map

[kocio-pl]

Another feature that should be handy in the outdoor, but in urban areas would make things worse if we use the uniform zoom level for both.

[matthijsmelissen]

See also #304 and #324.

[Tomasz-W]

I don't like that all information=* tags are rendered the same, so I've tried to distinguish them:

• information=office
  
• information=audioguide
  
• information=guidepost
  
• information=map
  
• information=board
  

For terminal, tactile_map and tactile_model I have no idea.

_Just as my note, Wiki link: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:information_

[kocio-pl]

First impression is very good - I was thinking about exactly the same design for information=office lately, the rest is very clear and nice for me. One should only think about initial zoom levels and test if information=board wouldn't be too dark, but that's a solid foundation for PR.

[geowas-github]

All 5 of them work good for me!

[Tomasz-W]

I got some ideas for 3 tags which I mentioned above.
What about make board icon square instead of rectangle, and use it also for terminals and tactile models? For tactile map I think we could use the same icon as for information=map.

[kocio-pl]

I can't imagine the outcome, would be good to just see it.

[Tomasz-W]

• information=board
  
• information=terminal
  

What do you think?

[kocio-pl]

Makes sense for me, however it would be good to make board with white background.

[dieterdreist]

sent from a phone

On 20. Feb 2018, at 21:54, kocio-pl [e-mail] wrote:

Makes sense for me, however it would be good to make board with white background

+1, actually transparent background, otherwise it’s too prominent compared to the other information icons. Often there a several boards close to each other

[Tomasz-W]

At the beginning, I've tried with white background. It made "i" character smaller, and icon not readable.

Gist links:

• information=office
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/f0b0e88571fb956e21cf7121eabe85fd
• information=terminal
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/02047f4f61aa6bf534c26c187ed6f248
• information=audioguide
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/c1b01647b8979e88b14d3dee6fcb3138
• information=guidepost
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/76bd709540f796d83eba9f9dd13780e7
• information=map, information=tactile_map
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/1e8f2e4a59069ddee99db53ac1a5c1dc
• information=board, information=tactile_model
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/d6f962425fbc8ec05b54a696e7eaee66

[kocio-pl]

Maybe instead of "i" you could use just some horizontal "script", like here for example:
https://github.com/gravitystorm/openstreetmap-carto/blob/master/symbols/plaque.svg

It may look similar to that icon:
https://github.com/gmgeo/osmic/blob/master/shop/computer-14.svg

[Tomasz-W]

• information=board
  
• information=terminal
  

For me, it's not readable, and I would like to stay with "i" character in all of information=* icons.
Any other thoughts?

[kocio-pl]

Sorry, I meant white board with dark script, just like the Osmic laptop icon. Plaque was interesting just to show that script can be irregular, not symmetric.

For the information terminal it was mainly OK for me wit "i" (with script it's less readable), but you might add for example wifi-like symbol to show that "Mostly it is combined with access to the internet" or some other attribute of electronic (mouse arrow?) or electric device (maybe just a cable or antenna?).

For tactile you might try adding a hand icon.

[Tomasz-W]

• information=board
  (i-version)
  (script-version)
• information=terminal
  (i-version)
  (script-version)

I still find "i-versions" more intuitive.

There is not enough space to add a hand and make a tactile one.

[kocio-pl]

I vote for script-version of board and i-version for terminal for now, but it has to be tested on rendering, of course.

[Tomasz-W]

Script-version of board icon added to Gist: https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/d6f962425fbc8ec05b54a696e7eaee66

[kocio-pl]

Thanks! What about mouse cursor arrow instead of "i" in terminal?

[Tomasz-W]

I think it would look more like a public-computer (I don't know how it's called, but at some bus/ train stations there are computers with 1h access for a few coins)

[kocio-pl]

So there might be enough space to place it outside (terminal is thinner than board)?

[Tomasz-W]

For me, it's not readable. and unnecessarily complicated.

[kocio-pl]

For me it's more clear, but less elegant.

[daganzdaanda]

How about this:

board on transparent

terminal on transparent

I tweaked your idea and pixel-aligned the "i" so it is strong enough on a transparent background
Gist
One could even make the dot of the i a perfect square to have no blurriness at all.

[daganzdaanda]

Btw, for me the "i" is necessary because it is an well known symbol for tourists all over the world. The generic "script" is better used for things like memorials / plaques etc.

[Tomasz-W]

@daganzdaanda I'm not sure about readability of them. I'm worried that "i" is huddled too much.

[lakedistrictOSM]

The script versions are clearer for board and terminal but I'd prefer an icon with an "i". I like all of @Tomasz-W 's other designs too. Here's a few designs for board from me:

B1 and B2 - same as Tomasz's information=office icon, but with the circle replaced by a square/rectangle

B3 - pixel aligned "i" design

I'm unsure if the boards should have posts/legs (some boards will be on walls, for example).

[dieterdreist]

sent from a phone

On 9. Mar 2018, at 00:14, lakedistrictOSM [e-mail] wrote:

I'm unsure if the boards should have posts/legs (some boards will be on walls, for example).

for me it works better with legs

[lakedistrictOSM]

I think that a sans-serif "i" looks clearer than a serif "_i_" in a little icon. 1px border seems to work too.
B4
B5

Terminals:
T1 - legs
T2 - base/stand
T3 & T4 - with a "home button" to replicate a giant tablet/iPad

[dieterdreist]

2018-03-09 7:31 GMT+01:00 lakedistrictOSM [e-mail]:

I think that a sans-serif "i" looks clearer than a serif "i" in a
little icon. 1px border seems to work too.

I'd argue for the opposite: information i-s are mostly serif i-s, although
you might occassionally find sings with sans-serif versions. The serif
makes it clear it is a character, while the sans-serif version bears the
risk of being misinterpreted (e.g. as a person).

[lakedistrictOSM]

The sans-serif idea was also to free up pixels to make the icon more readable, IMO. However B4, B5 and T1-T3 also work with a serif "i" if people prefer.

[kocio-pl]

I still think that if the board contains some text, it's probably the information.

[Tomasz-W]

My picks:

Board:
(Tomasz-W 'i-version')
or
(Tomasz-W 'script-version')

Terminal:
(@lakedistrictOSM T2; I'm not sure about readability, maybe the edges should be thicker, but I like the idea)

[kocio-pl]

See also https://github.com/gravitystorm/openstreetmap-carto/issues/324#issuecomment-35800186 and #304.

[SomeoneElseOSM]

If anyone wants to borrow (or just get ideas from) the ones at http://map.atownsend.org.uk/maps/map/map.html#zoom=18&lat=-24.997805&lon=135.173656 be my guest. Icons at e,g, https://github.com/SomeoneElseOSM/openstreetmap-carto-AJT/blob/master/symbols/informationboard.png . The principle is to keep the "i" but add another symbol to subdivide them.

[Tomasz-W]

Talking about zoom levels, my proposition after checking some city and mountain terrains:

• information=office -> z16 or z17
• information=map; guidepost -> z18
• all the rest (including tourism=informationwithout information=* tag) -> z19

But firstly, we have to choose proper board and terminal icons. So again:

Board:
(Tomasz-W 'i-version')
(Tomasz-W 'script-version')

Terminal:
(@lakedistrictOSM T2)
(Tomasz-W)

[Tomasz-W]

@kocio-pl @dieterdreist @daganzdaanda @lakedistrictOSM @SomeoneElseOSM
Can you choose which icons from https://github.com/gravitystorm/openstreetmap-carto/issues/1978#issuecomment-376216722 do you prefer?

[kocio-pl]

Board - 2
Terminal - 1

[dieterdreist]

sent from a phone

On 27. Apr 2018, at 12:42, kocio-pl [e-mail] wrote:

Board - 2
Terminal - 1

I agree with kocio

[Tomasz-W]

Gist links after discussion:

• information=office
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/f0b0e88571fb956e21cf7121eabe85fd
• information=terminal -> @lakedistrictOSM please upload clean SVG of your 'T2' design to Gist
• information=audioguide
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/c1b01647b8979e88b14d3dee6fcb3138
• information=guidepost
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/76bd709540f796d83eba9f9dd13780e7
• information=map, information=tactile_map
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/1e8f2e4a59069ddee99db53ac1a5c1dc
• information=board, information=tactile_model
  https://gist.github.com/Tomasz-W/d6f962425fbc8ec05b54a696e7eaee66 (we chose a "script' one)

[Tomasz-W]

@lakedistrictOSM Can you upload clean SVG of your "T2" design to Gist? A PR is waiting ;)

[lakedistrictOSM]

@Tomasz-W It might be quicker if maybe you could try recreating it? It looks like it's 14px tall, 8px wide, frame width is 1px (base is ~3px), i is 2px thick. All pixel aligned. (I don't have access to it at the moment) :)