The meeting presentation started by 04;10pm WAT after the initial four Local Guides namely Uche Enem (Co-host), Sagir Adamu, Isaac Oguji and Anil Singh introduced themselves. Other Local Guides that joined later includes; Onuka Kalu, Rosy Kohil, Arati Shinde, Erna’s Adventure, Chidi Amadi, Shunt M, Devi Dimitra and Pramod M G bringing total attendees to thirteen. Highlight of the presentation includes
RECAP ON LAST VIRTUAL MEETING: EDITING: GENERIC TO SPECIFIC 1
Last Saturday 4/7/2020 on Editing: Generic to Specific 1. We discussed the necessity of making information about location spots on Google Specific as against the use of Generic classification. ur emphasis was on categorization. We took examples; Rather than categorize a location as school which sounds generic why not be specific on the type of school? Primary, High School, Nursery school etc. to make it more specific. Other generic category the requires specificity includes; Government office (Federal, State, Local Government) Financial Institution (Bank, Pension, Fund Management) Corporate office (Audit Firm, Legal Firm). Church (Catholic, Pentecostal, Anglican etc.)
INTRODUTION
One of the available editable parameters on Destination points represented on Google Map is Name. While our last meeting focus on category todays attention was on Names and Addresses.
When it comes to naming points of interest on Google Maps. Google recommends that the name on the signpost should be used.
However, the reality is that location names are in some instance misspelt, Sobriquet used instead of Root names and in some other situations confusing abbreviations are used to identify organizations and buildings on the map.
NAMES: WRONG SPELLINGS
Sometimes, names of a point of interest are wrongly spelt some examples captured includes Tagging a location Fouraquare instead of FOURSQUARE
In another instance Grammar School is spelt as Grammer and a whole lot of others
The implication of allowing these mistakes on the map is that when the real name is sought for via the search bar, these locations may not appear since the correct name was not used ab initio.
It therefore behooves on us to correct these errors via editing
NAMES: ABBREVIATIONS
Using abbreviations is still another aberration that can led to confusion. NSE in Nigeria could mean Nigerian Stock Exchange or Nigerian Society of Engineers this makes it inappropriate to create any of these locations with abbreviation or acronym “NSE”.
The acronym CAC in western side of Nigeria will popularly mean Christ Apostolic Church whereas at the mention of that name within Abuja FCT you are likely to be directed to Corporate Affairs Commission.
The same thing is applicable with NBC, it can mean Nigeria Bottling Company makers of Coca Cola or National Broadcasting Commission the body regulating broadcasting in Nigeria.
NAMES: SOBRIQUET OR ROOT NAMES
Sometimes popular destination points are represented on the map using the sobriquet or aliases instead the root name as captured on their signposts.
While the use of these aliases may be desirable for the purpose of identification, the confusion it creates led to multiple creation on the map, making difficult to designate the correct spot.
Therefore, it will be better to write the name on signpost and then put the sobriquet in bracket.
ADDRESSES: LOCATION DETAILS SPECIFIC?
It is common thing on the to see an organization on map created on different location entirely different from where the organization is
This could be as a result of not using coordinate points i.e. Longitude and Latitude figures otherwise called geo-tagging, at the time of creating these spots on the map.
The picture in the next slide shows Living Faith Church Jahi which is in Abuja. But geographically sited in Jos instead of Abuja
CONCLUSION
While I have examples from Nigeria, I believe that similar errors exist in other locations outside Nigeria. Thus, a clarion calls on Local Guides around the globe to take up the challenge and edit where necessary destination points with information: Names, Addresses, Categories etc. not specifically stated.
COMMENTS
@isaacoguji This presentation brought to fore and issue that I personally have not given thought over especially making categorization churches specific.
@Uceey10. This topic is the reality we are faced with as local guides. I remember my attempt to place hotel on the map which was not approved, but later when I checked back that same hotel appeared three times on the map. But because I needed to do a 360-degree picture I was confused on which of the three spots to adopt.
@sagir Responding to Uche’s encounter suggested that in such circumstances, the spot with more details like phone number, website, hours of operation should be selected. In some other situation spot with the highest number of reviews could be the best option. He made a presentation on a similar encounter he had with a Zenith ATM spot that was created twice within a location in Lagos applying his rule of the thumb he selected one and flagged the other using the feedback facility.
@Rosy agreed that similar challenge exists in her area which will be investigated for possible editing to make the google map better.
@Anil6969 appreciated the presentation as timely and necessary and also used that opportunity to invite everyone to his meet up coming up on 26th July 2020.
The meeting was rounded off some minutes before 5pm.
@UchechukwuEnem @Anil6969 @Sagir @Onukakalu @RosyKohli @Shrut19 @Mayford @ChidiAmadi
