[sp8962]

I need to quote myself on this thread https://twitter.com/sp8962/status/1534079141640904705

Steve hasn't been a relevant force in OSM for more than a decade and if you want to do OSM a favour, point people to the editor on openstreetmap.org, not any of the mobile or "simplified" editing apps.

[ikawe]

> if you want to do OSM a favour, point people to the editor on openstreetmap.org, not any of the mobile or "simplified" editing apps.

If you want to make the time to take photos and take notes, and sit down later and enter them on your computer, go for it. Likely that's a faster way to do a larger entry. In particular, I haven't seen a mobile app that does a great job of polygon geometry editing — a mouse really helps.

But I don't think it's a problem to do simple POI entry or attribute updates from a simpler mobile app like "Go Mapp!!". I think like many things, the best mapping tool is "the one that you have with you".

Am I missing something?

[aendruk]

To add to this, not everyone needs to pursue the same kind of work. As a more experienced mapper I make a point of allocating my time toward what I think of as “scaffolding” tasks that enable others’ mobile contributions—geometry, wide area edits, alignment, navigational references, model clarification, or anything that might trigger new quests in StreetComplete or declutter formidable ones. It’s gratifying to have exposed new opportunities for mobile contributions and see the questers begin filling them in.

[aendruk]

What do you recommend to beginners for mapping in the field? Walk around with a laptop? Or just notes on paper for later data entry?

In the mapping events I’ve attended a clear goal was to onboard people into contributing casually and frequently as they go about their everyday lives.

(For context I can’t see the linked Twitter thread and have no idea why you’re talking about Steve)

[sp8962]

The easiest thing people can do these days is to take georeferenced photographs with their phones, best with a photo app that will record the direction the phone was pointing, for example OpenCamera on Android. Then take their time and then add the information either with iD (the javascript based editor on openstreetmap.org) on a desktop (or JOSM if they are savy enough), or on either of the mobile editors, but most importantly sitting down in peace and quiet.

While direct entry (on the phone) is what I would do and would recommend for anybody that already knows the ropes, it is going to be overwhelming for a beginner.

PS: I was commenting on the whole thread, and if you look through it you will see Steve mentioned as the OSM savant.

[mistrial9]

the iD editor https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/ID

[aendruk]

That’s great to hear. The OSM website hides the Edit link on my phone and I’d inferred that iD must therefore not be sufficiently usable on mobile.

[eisa01]

It's not usable on an iPad, so likely not on mobile either.

I was able to do edits in RapID (the Facebook fork), although you need to reload between each edit.

[luuurker]

> point people to the editor on openstreetmap.org, not any of the mobile or "simplified" editing

I wouldn't have made most of my contributions (or even started mapping) if I had to use their website on a tiny screen or had to take pictures or notes to add it later when I had my computer. I use their website, but that only for more advanced stuff.

The right approach is approach is probably somewhere between the two extremes. Teach new users about the website, but also about apps that let you quickly fix/update/add new stuff right on your phone.

You don't have to do this yourself, just understand that simple apps are a good way to bring new users in, that they're good enough for a lot of tasks, and that this newer generation of tech users usually prefer apps to web editors.

[sp8962]

> You don't have to do this yourself, just understand that simple apps are a good way to bring new users in, ...

Except that the numbers show the opposite.