Get user Birth location

Question

So i need to get the exact location of where a person was born.

Currently, I have two maps on a page and an input field. So you can basically use either one. Right now the top map is a view of the world so you can locate where you were born in the world, then a zoomed in map to get more precise for the second map.

I want to redo this form, as i kind of have to re-program it anyway. I was thinking of having an input box for the user to give the location of the place they were born at. This would use Google maps API and then once they input that information, select the proper selection if there are multiple results. Once they do that, then show a map of that location to make sure this what they intended. It doesn't need to be 100% accurate, but it has to be very close, i need to get longitude and latitude from this.

Do you think the new way would be more intuitive and easier for the user?

Is there any other way you can think of to get this information, making it easier for the user?

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Edit

I just want to point out that this information isn't being asked for right away and it's some optional information to make full use of the website. Also, this information isn't for public view, it's really just to make some calculations and then spit out some additional information. But no one would know exactly where you were born. So, i just need to find the best way to get this information as at this point the user already should know this and they are the ones willing to give away this information.

Answer 1

This is a tough one. Requiring the exact position where a user was born is both difficult and spooky —you might as well ask for their blood type! But for the question's sake we will asume users will be ok with getting their birth certificates and checking the hospital where they were born.

I would build a form that would go from simple to complex depending on the information the user can provide:

• First ask for the country, and then city. So far this should be pretty simple.
• Provide an option list or an auto-completing search text field to find the hospital.
• Allow for an extra option if the hospital is not listed or the user doesn't know (such as an Other options option or checkbox)
• If the exact hospital couldn't be selected, then require the user to enter a street address or pin a map.

Bear in mind that requiring a user to input the exact location, both in postal address or pinning a map, of their place of birth could be a barrier for conversions or whatever the site is after. So exposing the user with a simple form at first, and then incrementally making it more complex and demanding, only if required, would take some friction out of the process.

Here is a mockup code as an example of the process.

Answer 2

I'd seriously question whether you need a precise location or not. Knowing that someone was born in say "Paris, France" would most likely be enough for almost any use.

In addition most people don't know exactly where they were born, but do know the town / city level.

If town / city is enough detail for you, then simply ask for the country they were born in, and the city.

If you still need exact details, you should realise that:

1. your data will never be accurate even for people that know exactly where they were born, as there is little information on how deep they should place a marker in the map GUI.

2. You will get a much lower response rate from people as most don't know exactly (i.e. address) where they were born, and even for those that do, you are making them jump through hoops to show it on a map.

3. Many people can't actually read maps. Do some user testing and you will likely come across this problem.

Answer 3

Go for a simple form. Google Maps could be to much effort for the user. But you could autopopulate the country field because the majority will live in the country they are born in. Then you could use an autocomplete function for the city field. That will speed up the process.