This week we've had a bit of a field test of the maps just to evaluate some of the different ways they potentially could be used. Having been both on and off net over the course of a 2000 km trip, and travelling by road most of the time, we've had a bit of a think about some of the practical aspects of using maps.
These days with electronic handheld devices, one of which is being used to write this post, there is a great deal of inbuilt adaptability and convenience. Online platforms have transformed navigation for travel, but require a large and expensive web based infrastructure to provide the user interface for the platform.
This project works on the assumption that people can still print maps out onto paper and carry a physical volume or medium along with them. As we all know the online platforms have little usefulness when out of mobile coverage areas, as is the case in significant areas of New Zealand.
Whilst retaining the focus on a format that is designed with physical media in mind, some effort will be expended on seeing if we can find ways to make the maps easier to use on a handheld device such as a tablet. The main issue is making the switching from page to page easy and intuitive to the greatest possible extent, given that rotation of a physical device is possible to orient the map the correct way up - just as with a physical map - and that there is then a desirability to have indications of which way to swipe between pages.
