A platform for building spatially enabled rich internet applications.
The agenda covered a wide range of topics including a number of case studies of recently developed applications, a preview of the work contributing to both the next release (2.6) and version 3.0 and some more technical sessions focusing on data and configuration.Thanks to everyone that attended, if you didn’t make it then maybe next time.
We’ve been doing a fair bit of work the last few weeks on implementing a number of accessible features in the applications we are jointly building with Reading Room for the new CCW website (coming soon). We’ve been lucky enough to work with the RNIB who have provided invaluable feedback.
We have focused on the technical requirements so far which include making all controls accessible via the keyboard including map navigation, searching and selection of layers; providing screen reader prompts to describe the various controls, lists of results etc. and allowing the application to scale with respect to the users desired text size. A number of these features will make their way into the core ActionScript API before v2.6.
We’ve also been working with various staff at CCW to compile the layers displayed in the applications and a number of things have been done to try and ensure the content (generally the map data CCW maintain such as SSSIs.) is easy to distingush against the backdrop maps.
The next area of focus is providing alternative accessible content for those users that find it difficult to interact with a map, which will need to involve the data owners at CCW who are best placed to say what information needs to be made accessible.
Safe Software have just announced support for GeoRSS which provides a means for adding a location to entries in a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. You can find the press release here. Support for displaying GeoRSS feeds is a likely addition to a future release of ResponseMX.
The second ResponseMX User Forum is due to take place next Tuesday (2007-01-30) at our Offices. The number of delegates is up on last year reflecting the number of people who have been adopting ResponseMX. The aim is to focus on what ResponseMX is being used to develop, taking a slightly less technical approach to last years event which was more focused on how you develop with ResponseMX.
Today the OS Map Viewer application developed for the Legal Deposit Libraries went live. The hosted application allows members of the public to view national cover of Ordnance Survey large-scale digital map data for the last eight years (Land-Line 1998-2005, OS MasterMap 2006). Access to the OS Map Viewer is available from within a reading room of one of the six legal deposit libraries throughout the UK and Ireland.
A number of new features have gone into the application including the ability to display two synchronized maps side by side and an AJAX print preview which allows the user to print to scale and adjust the map view by panning while in the print preview. A number of these features are scheduled for the next release of ResponseMX (2.6 due in Feb.).
See the case studies section for more details and some screen shots.
