Feature summary
Currently Special:Nearby asks for the user’s geographical location, and shows only places around the location provided by the browser. It doesn’t allow setting an arbitrary position, and refuses to work if the user denies the access to their location. Setting an arbitrary position should be possible (and should not require access to the actual position).
Use cases
- Use Nearby without the browser being enable to determine the user location, or with the browser determining the wrong location (e.g. IP address-based determination through VPN or proxy).
- Use Nearby without granting access to the user location even if it would provide accurate results (security-minded users).
- Explore other locations, for example find interesting places around a tourist destination one plans to visit.
Benefits
Making the above use cases possible.
Background information
This used to be possible in the Android app version before it was sunset (T228661). I proposed this in the 2022 Community Wishlist wish Add a map to Special:Nearby (ranked #68 with 42 support votes), although the focus of the wish was T303813.