6.3 Outlook

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6.3 Outlook

This thesis proposes that Smart Map Browsing leads to improved user acceptance. Approaches of the heuristic evalution method were used to prove this thesis by way of a usability analysis. Empirical confirmation was not carried out, as this would have been beyond the scope of this thesis.

As a result, extensive usability tests using scientific methods are recommended for further research work, as they serve to substantiate usability improvements in web mapping applications through the hereby defined characteristics of Smart Map Browsing.

There is a need for further research in the implementation of Smart Map Browsing characteristics. Given the current state of technology, the defined characteristics have only limited value. As the technology develops, additional analysis and definitions will be required.

For the animated zooming feature in OpenLayers the following extensions are conceivable for the future:

• All layer types are fully animated zooming compatible.
• An »add-up« of several zoom interactions during an automatic zoom animation results in a recalculation of the maximum zoom level. Using the example of mouse wheel movement this means that the number of wheel turns would be taken into account.
• To optimize the tile load time, background loading of the tiles for the maximum zoom level is carried while the automatic zoom animation is still in process. If the maximum zoom level is changed, the loaded tiles are discarded.
• The ZoomReset globe from the simplified zoom bar is integrated into the center of the pan navigation panel, enabling ZoomReset in combination with the expanded zoom bar of the PanZoom bar. Note: The zoom bar is considered fundamental for manual animated zooming and it, rather than the mini zoom bar, should be included in standard versions of OpenLayers.

Looking at the discussions on the future of Free web mapping applications, it seems likely that OpenLayers will one day form the functional core for some map applications - current discussions revolve around ka-map, Mapbuilder and Mapbender. OpenLayers already offers an adaptable lite version, which swaps out selected OpenLayers classes into one JavaScript file (see Section 3.4.1 and 6.1). This would provide for a trouble-free integration into other applications.

The lite version is a first step towards linking the multitude of Free web mapping projects and effectively utilizing their specific potentials. The Smart Map Browsing properties of OpenLayers which were investigated in this thesis could also be used to develop lasting and effective usability improvements for other web mapping applications.

6.3 Outlook

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