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Does OSM not "garner the same kind of attention as other mapping platforms, chiefly because it’s not designed as a consumer-focused service — it’s more of a backend that developers can use to integrate mapping services into their own applications", as this article claims? So is the maps 100s of thousands of contributors have no use for consumers and are instead creating maps so that TripAdvisor and Facebook can place a few maps on their website?

If so, why? Why not make osm useful for consumers, especially the main website?

asked 04 Aug '18, 08:05

CuriousPerson1234's gravatar image

CuriousPerso...
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The primary focus of the OSM project was always to create free maps. Do also note that OSM is a non-profit that quite simply does not have the funds to do what Google Maps etc are doing.

Also TripAdvisor & Facebook are by far not the only users of OSM Maps. Much more interesting to many contributors is the ability to put free uptodate maps on Garmin devices or create updated maps for Open Source navigational apps like Osmand. Sites like Waymarkedtrails or Cycletravel, which could not exist without OSM are also quite popular.

In a sense it's quite correct that OSM kinda "is just a backend for developers". That however does not mean it has no use for consumers.

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answered 04 Aug '18, 09:31

Hjart's gravatar image

Hjart
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… more uses of OSM: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Internet_Links (also see the "see also" section there).

(04 Aug '18, 12:49) aseerel4c26 ♦

This question is unnecessarily combative, and not a good fit for this Q&A forum (see FAQ link on top right of page). Please have discussions like this on the mailing list.

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answered 04 Aug '18, 17:06

Frederik%20Ramm's gravatar image

Frederik Ramm ♦
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question asked: 04 Aug '18, 08:05

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last updated: 05 Aug '18, 13:25

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