Idea to link to Google Street Views in profiles and a new symbol denoting these links. Would you use it?

Question

While working on my Grandfather's profile, I thought it would be valuable to provide easy access to the current Google Street View of the places he lived between 1904-1960.

It turned out to be quite simple to achieve. I just needed to select the best angle on Google Street View, copy the link, and paste it in as an external URL in the text.

Initially, I added the text "(Street View)" next to the address link. But then, my design instincts kicked in, and I began considering using a unique code or symbol. After reviewing and testing numerous ALT codes, I settled on U+26E2 ⛢, the astronomical symbol for Uranus. The dot in a circle with an upward-pointing arrow seemed like a fitting representation of a pinpoint view, and it worked effectively within the text.

You can see my idea in action here: 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dobson-5103

If you look closely, you'll notice that I also used an ALT 'Latin cross' symbol before the name of a church further down the profile, denoting the 1930 marriage.

Implementing these symbols on a Mac was straightforward, but I'm uncertain about how it's done on a PC.

Would you consider using this approach yourself?

Comments

Hmm, recently Google Street view changed their rules about use of their material, I don't remember the details, but perhaps you should check out the times and conditions.

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Thank you for your reply.

I will check this out, but Google have always encouraged and made it very easy to link to their map products.

Answer 1

Would you consider using this approach yourself?

This is definitely creative; however, I would not use symbols like this.

1. Special symbols might not be read correctly by screen readers used by visually impaired users. This could make navigation and understanding more difficult.
2. Not all devices and browsers might support or correctly display unusual Unicode characters. Users on older or less compatible devices might see a placeholder or an incorrect symbol, which could lead to confusion.
3. While the symbolism is clever, it might not be immediately clear to all users what the symbol represents.
4. Depending on a user's technical skills, inserting special characters would be more complicated than simply adding a link. This could be a barrier for less technically inclined users who wish to edit or update profiles.
5. Symbols like this could interfere with queries within the WikiTree API. For example, an app might have parsers that fail or behave unpredictably when encountering unusual or non-standard Unicode character that you would expect to find in a profile.

One other large issue I can think of, is that this could impact GEDCOMs.GEDCOM files typically use ASCII or ANSEL (ANSI Extended Latin) character sets. If the file includes characters outside of these sets, such as Unicode symbols, they may not be supported or could be misrepresented in the exported file. That could result in unintended data corruption or loss of information.

Comments

I tried this symbol in a GEDCOM and noticed that the Uranus symbol was transcoded wrong to '⛢'. So GEDCOM compatibility can definitely be an issue.

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Hi Steven

Thank you for your detailed explanation of points I hadn't considered. I'm always open to learn something new so I'm grateful to you for flagging up some potential issues.

The symbols idea might fall into the category of 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should'.

I'm glad I only experimented with one profile before seeking opinion of other Wikitreers.

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If you are still interested in trying to accomplish the same thing, but in a way that will not pose any issues as noted above, why not use an image?

{{Image|file=map.gif|size=12}}

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It crossed my mind that a small inline image might work. I'm testing the map pin you provided (still on profile) but when I pasted your code in a line of text it created line breaks and centred the pin in the column. Also when I clicked on the pin itself it went directly to the image page in very much the same way as if you click on a photo.

I do think that there is something in your suggestion.

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Steve, try this:

[https://maps.app.goo.gl/vsD4nP3agrsQZSpj7 https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/7/73/Map.gif] [https://maps.app.goo.gl/vsD4nP3agrsQZSpj7 418 London Road]

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That worked! You have given me another idea and guide to method of how I can place an inline graphic on a Free-space project I'm working on, that wouldn't be effected by any future output to GEDCOM.

Your advice has been very useful and helped expand my knowledge. Thank you.

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Is it possible to bring it in a link template like those for FamilySarch, Ancestry, WikiData?

{{GoogleStreetView …}}

And link and icon will be provided automatically?

Edit:

Template: YouTube provides the Link with a symbol.

Answer 2

I also like linking to maps from profiles.

I'm not sure that the icon/character is necessary though. I'm asking myself what it is that you are trying to achieve with the icon.

If it is to show that the following is a link that is unnecessary because we can see it is a link because the browser shows it in link style (normally underlined). So I'm guessing that maybe you want the user to know what the link goes to before clicking on it. One way they can do this is to hover over the link and the browser will display the URL.

So, I'm guessing that it is more that you want to call attention to the fact that there is a link to what the named place looks like now on streetview. But most people will not know what the icon means. So you are putting another line below to say that. It would seem simpler to just put "(link to StreetView)" after the link. Though possibly that breaks up the narrative too much for your liking.

Another approach might be to have a === Locations === section as a subsection of == Biography ==. In that section you could have another subsection like  ==== 428 London Road ==== and give as much detail as you like about that location, including links to StreetView and links to old maps on the NLS site. You could even screenshot old OS maps that are out of copyright and mark them up with a pointer to the spot and include that as an inline image. You could also link from the main biography where you mention the location to the subsection below that gives the details. 

I have been thinking of doing something like that on this profile. Currently it just has links to OS maps on the NLS site.

Here is an older profile that I worked on and added images of maps.

Here is one where I put images of maps in a subsection called "Geographical Context".

Comments

You are right in that I was trying to signal that the link was a Streetview.

I am going to create a One-Place-Study of this particular row of houses and the attached pub. In the 1920s my ancestors only moved within a few doors of each other, so at one time or another the family occupied three of the properties in the row. I'm considering that I might use the OPS more as a link to the various Streetviews. It a bit like the 'Locations' sub section you described but as a separate page.

I'm a huge fan of the NLS site you mentioned but I didn't know you could place a marker on the map ...that's very useful to know. I used an NLS map on my first OPS: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

I was also interested to see your image maps with points of interest marked on them.

Thank you for sharing your suggestions. There's a few good ideas here I fully intend to steal :-)

Answer 3

I have only one profile where I have linked to google maps, because I was able to identify a small farm building that would have been the home of an ancestor, now just a run down building beside a small country lane. I could add more over time and would be interested to know if there is a best way to do it.