Tourist destination maps with compasses attached, permanently fixed to the page. Point the needle north and everything comes into line with where you are. Allows people to get a feel for what direction things really are from them. A comforting feeling when you're in a place where you don't know which way is up, and not sure which way to lay out a map. This would be an appreciated convenience ,simpler than using the map and compass in combination and people would remember it. Could earn points for the bureaus of tourism.-- UfosOverChina, Oct 07 2002 could be easily incorporated here http://www.halfbake...al_20interest_20GPS(shameless self reference) [lewisgirl, Oct 09 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004] baked to my satisfaction http://www.travelgu...e_scandinavia_c.htm [UfosOverChina, Oct 09 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004] Most tourist maps are topological, are at least grossly simplified, so aligning them with the compass (as opposed to the nearest intersection) is quite meaningless.
If you really want to help, give out e-maps with an embedded, GPS-driven "YOU ARE HERE" marker.-- DrCurry, Oct 07 2002 This was where I started with this concept and ended up with the 'compass map'', because it was simpler. Maybe you would like it better or not at all. Everyone has opinions, thanks for yours DrCurry. :
This device used by tourist would be a hand held computerized device. The user would choose a location (city),from a menu, and point the device north. On the outer circumference would be displayed arrows pointing directly at local points of interest (tourist attractions) and displaying their respective direction and distance from the city's center. Included, from each location, would be a number of well-known cities to enhance the users ability to reason where they are in relation to the rest of the country/world. This would also be helpful to people who just have trouble with directions and geography.
Would not require (GSP) global satellite-- UfosOverChina, Oct 07 2002 Shirley this can be done (in large part) now with PDAs?
The compass-without-GPS part lets the tourist orient the map, but (as [DrCurry] points out) doesn't tell them where they are *on* the map - possibly making it useless.-- phoenix, Oct 07 2002 Most of the time you know what exact location you are at,intersection or whatever. Even with the GPS "YOU ARE HERE" you need to know where true north is.
The idea is to give the user the convenience of knowing which actual direction things are from them. Many people, myself included, couldn't point straight to points across their home towns, much less in a foreign place.
If maps with compasses and without are offered, I'll take the one with.
GPS and the computer gear would not be cost efficient for free distribution for tourism publicity.-- UfosOverChina, Oct 07 2002 < Shirley this can be done (in large part) now with PDAs?
The compass-without-GPS part lets the tourist orient the map, but (as [DrCurry] points out) doesn't tell them where they are *on* the map - possibly making it useless.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- phoenix, Oct 07 2002 >
I don't think you understand the concept at all. It's just a simple aid for tourist from tourism promoters. It's not to point out where you are on a map.-- UfosOverChina, Oct 08 2002 I understand this and think it is a good idea. I always find it helpful to orient the map to the surroundings; "map" the map. A small compass glued on to the map surface wouldn't cost much and some percentage of users would appreciate it. +-- bristolz, Oct 08 2002 I can never figure out how to fold the *#%$ map. Won't this just make it impossible to get it flat?
Sorry, that's just a pet peeve of mine. I actually quite like the idea. And the margin markings you mentioned in your anno would be a nice addition.-- lurch, Oct 08 2002 [lurch], if you can never fold it it's never flat anyway, no?
Maybe [UOChina] can get really thin compasses (compii?)-- bristolz, Oct 08 2002 Oh, yes, it gets flat. Footprints all over. Not good for a plastic compass.
Anyway, that's my own problem. Can't hold it against [UOChina]. Maybe there'll be a hole in the pages opposite the compass, so if I line them all up, it folds correctly, the compass is not thicker than the map, and the compass shows through the front cover when it's all folded up.-- lurch, Oct 08 2002 Oh, I didn't know you were such an ardent folder, [lurch]. I like the compass knockout through the folds of the map idea.-- bristolz, Oct 08 2002 <Maybe there'll be a hole in the pages opposite the compass, so if I line them all up, it folds correctly, the compass is not thicker than the map, and the compass shows through the front cover when it's all folded up.>
[lurch] I also imagined the cut out pages, and that may even make the map easier to fold than regular maps. It would be tricky, but not impossible, to design this so that there wouldn't be parts of the map details missing. I never thought about the showing through front cover when folded but I think that sounds logical and convenient.-- UfosOverChina, Oct 09 2002 Simple. Easy. Cheap. Useful. Croissant.-- Jinbish, Oct 09 2002 Welcome Ufos, great idea. A neat and useful gimmick that would make for memorable advertising. I'd definitely pick one up.-- madradish, Oct 09 2002 I know a very baked example of this but I can't remember the publisher. I have a laminated twice-folded map of Stockholm which has a little compass embedded in the corner. On the outermost fold it has flip-up pages of Restaurants, Museums, Hotels, Transport advice etc., each referenced with a simple grid system overlain on the very clear streetmapping.The only thing which strikes me about your idea is that I got a mental image after reading "Point the needle north and everything comes into line with where you are" that you spin the needle, and all the buildings whizz around in midair and come to rest in line with you, according to your whim of what direction you were facing. Rather like mapreading on acid. It also strikes me that people who know how to use compasses are also the kind of people who know how to find the name of a street from the signs, look for another street off a junction, and find that point on a map. It's only in the US that your blasted grid system means you need to know the junction *and* which direction you're facing. For that problem, no sticky-on compass on a map is going to help you out. You need GPS, man, no question about it. Good thing that GPS costs about five quid these days then, eh.-- lewisgirl, Oct 09 2002 [lewisgirl] Thank you for your input and 'shameless self reference', I should have said point the map north and it would come into line with everything-- now you got me imagining everything spinning. No maps on acid please!-- UfosOverChina, Oct 09 2002 memory - 2 minutes drive to the pub if I turn right at the next junction. reach junction - no right turn - compelled to drive on. next stop, Hertfordshire. who needs a compass in London?-- po, Oct 09 2002 You need the knowledge, Po-- The Kat, Oct 09 2002 [lewisgirl] I found this through a Google web search and you are right it is very much baked.
{MGI, publisher of the popular origami-like PopOut city center maps, is now publishing a series of larger laminated maps for a variety of cities. Colorful and easy to follow, and each map contains a built-in, miniature magnetic compass (what a great idea!).-- UfosOverChina, Oct 09 2002 random, halfbakery