By identifying pitfalls in existing Web maps, it is possible to
offer recommendations on how to design Web mapping
sites that are easier to use and attractive to different groups
of users. A possible bias in this study, however, may be
drawn from the fact that the Web maps included in the
evaluation were well known and widely used. It might
therefore be expected that such sites have fewer problems
than more unfamiliar applications as a result of their
popularity. The evaluation of the Web mapping sites
nevertheless identified a considerable number of severe
usability problems. If these were typical for Web maps that
are in use every day and by large numbers of people, it
would be interesting to investigate the usability of smaller,
less familiar map applications. While this study did not seek
to do so, the topic should nevertheless be investigated in
future.