epiphany, once again

[Mike Davis]

*I apologize in advance for the rambling post, its been a long day.*

One of the biggest challenges I face when selling Mapserver to my various
bosses is that they continuously confuse Mapserver with *a
mapserver*(application that serves maps).  As brilliantly simple as
the name is, it is
just plain confusing to those not in the know.

A typical conversation goes like this:

Boss: "Are we using ArcIMS for our web site?"
Me: "No, we use Mapserver."
Boss: "No, I know we have a mapserver, but what application is it?"
Me: "Mapserver."
Boss: "Yes, what is it?"
Me: "Mapserver, its an Open Source application hosted by the University of
Minnesota."
Boss: "How much does it cost?"
Me: "It's Open Source, you can download it for free."
Boss: "Say what?"
Me: "Our web mapping application was free."
Boss: "But what is its name?"

Usually at this point I give out an exasperated groan and bring up the
Mapserver web site.  If we don't have time to go through the above ritual
the boss-type just ends up walking away confused.

The point is there is quite a bit of ambiguity in the name.  In a world that
obsesses over branding and labeling Mapserver has an almost post-modern
simplicity that seems to confuse absolutely everyone.


PS- If anyone is interested I might be convinced to donate www.gisluser.com
...
mapserver.gisluser.com?
mapguide.gisluser.com?
anybody?  Maybe not.


On 11/30/05, Allan Doyle <adoyle at eogeo.org> wrote:
>
> On Nov 30, 2005, at 16:20, P Kishor wrote:
>
> > How 'bout...
> >
> > MapServer Foundation (www.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - Web Application Server aka MapServer (was.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - Spatial Application Server aka Autodesk Mapguide
> > (sas.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - Studio aka Autodesk Studio (studio.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - PostGIS (postgis.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - PROJ.4 (proj4.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - GDAL (gdal.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - MapTools (maptools.mapserverfoundation.org)
> > - Chameleon (chameleon.mapserverfoundation.org)
> >
>
> How about Geographic Commons Foundation or Geospatial Commons
> Foundation - www.geocommons.org.
>
> Have the projects called whatever makes sense.
>
> This also leaves room for Geographic Data Commons as a "sister"
> organization if it ever happens. (http://www.spatial.maine.edu/
> geodatacommons/)
>
>        Allan
>
> --
> Allan Doyle
> +1.781.433.2695
> adoyle at eogeo.org
>
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