[OpenLayers-Dev] new zooming feature

[Emanuel Schütze]

Hi,

I study digital media in Bremen/Germany. At the present time I begin to write 
my diploma thesis at Intevation (www.intevation.de), a Free Software company, 
about web mapping applications and smart map browsing. In the practical part 
of this work I want to realize a feature of smart map browsing for 
OpenLayers.

I want to implement a "looks-like-live-zooming"-feature like used by p.mapper 
(look at the p.mapper-demo: http://www.pmapper.net/demo.shtml).

During you regulate the zoomlevel with the zoomslider the current 
mapview-bitmap is scaling on-the-fly by just shrinking or enlarging the 
bitmap. Looks cool for zoomin, but for zoomout you have a
white frame, naturally.  

Now, OpenLayers with the tile-preloading could even consider the tiles around 
the visible center for a good zoomout-experience.

My time for this development is limited. I have to finish this feature at the 
end of february 2007. So I'd like to start as soon as possible. Integrating 
the zoomfeature is independet of whether there is (a new ka-map/OpenLayers) 
tile-preloading already(?) implemented. But the nice zoomout effect requires 
it.

What do you think about my idea?
Already someone woking on this?
Any major blocker you see?
Will the (final) ka-map/OpenLayers tile preloading be available soon?
Does such a zoomfeature has a chance to get into the core of OpenLayers?

All the best,
Emanuel
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