New maps of Geocart should randomize the projection

[Piotr]

That would clearly make more sense than promoting the sinusoidal projection.

[daan]

We’ve already had this conversation.


— daan

[Piotr]

If you don't like randomizing every new map, there are other options:

2. Randomize projection every day, and have the demo version only make demo maps when the projection is changed.
3. Remove the New Map button, instead selecting a projection when no map is selected will make a new map.
4. Display a prompt on new maps of what should be the projection and parameters.
5. Like in 2, but users vote for projection of the day.
6. Like in 5, but the projection of the day is whatever got the Wikipedia featured image at that day.

[Piotr]

Because Geocart promotes the sinusoidal projection, people using the default projection would make inaccurate maps and you might start seeing maps that look like this:


And it's not until, say, 10 years later that the people realize this mistake and in the next revision change the projection to cylindrical equal area and set the standard parallel to 60° to remedy the distortions:

[Piotr]

So, what would happen if the map designers instead had a different Geocart version? Let's analyze the possibilities:

1. They'll notice that each map comes out differently. Upon analyzing the settings they'll see it's the map projection that changes each time. They'll in the meantime also find the distortion visualization, to help them find the projection with least distortion, and also find map projections with parameters (like cylindrical equal-area with standard parallel). Later they might find more advanced techniques such as recentering and blending for their next revision.
2. Upon making a map for the first time in the day, they'll see a dialog informing them of the projection of the day. They'll notice that, and find out about map projections.
3. To make a new map the map designers will be forced to click a map projection button. They have to test various map projections because they might suspect they're clicking a wrong one.
4. Upon making a new map they'll be introduced to map projections. For each option they click they'll see a preview of the map and its distortion visualization. They'll pay attention to their region of interest.
5. As the user is also encouraged to itself vote for the projection of the day, they'll find out about the differences in map projection and make a choice.
6. After seeing the dialog like in 2. they'll find out about map projections on Wikipedia, and get educated on them.

[daan]

I’ve never heard anyone else complain that the default projection confused them or that they felt like Geocart promotes the sinusoidal.

Most people don’t create a new map by selecting Map→New and then changing the projection. Instead, they directly select the projection they want to make a new map with by holding down a modifier key (such as shift) and choosing it from the projection menu it resides in. This is the best course for getting proper defaults for the projection.

I appreciate the educational goals you tout here. On the other hand, across the 28 years that people have been using Geocart, that goal seems to be met by people exploring projections in whatever ways they find appealing, at the times they want to—a task they’ve told me many, many times is easy and enjoyable. I would be surprised if many of them want to be forced into exploration by being given an unexpected projection that they then must change to the one they need—an operation that isn’t always going to be easy or even successful. When they have work to do, I doubt they would welcome the diversion.

— daan

[Piotr]

Most people don’t create a new map by selecting Map→New and then changing the projection. Instead, they directly select the projection they want to make a new map with by holding down a modifier key (such as shift) and choosing it from the projection menu it resides in. This is the best course for getting proper defaults for the projection.

I've never heard of such functionality. New users wouldn't think to press a modifier then some map projection name, let alone know the differences between using different modifiers for this, they would find the New Map button and then assume the sinusoidal projection is how Geocart maps look like (let's say they were using an online Web Mercator maps service to zoom to an area, then they proudly announce they switched to Geocart and they show sinusoidal maps).

[Atarimaster]

You really think new Geocart users are too dumb to notice that there are dozens of projections available? – Funny, I always thought that the myriad of projections is one of the reasons why people actually buy Geocart.

[Piotr]

You really think new Geocart users are too dumb to notice that there are dozens of projections available? – Funny, I always thought that the myriad of projections is one of the reasons why people actually buy Geocart.

But users unfamiliar with map projections would assume it's a marketting gimmick.