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"... I have grave doubts about whether the “book”, I mean in its paper form, has or even deserves a future. ..." Map nerd here. Bray is really talking about a

"... I have grave doubts about whether the “book”, I mean in its paper form, has or even deserves a future. ..." Map nerd here. Bray is really talking about a subset of what you use maps for. If by book Bray means printed, this isn't true for navigation or traversing land, sea and air. When I go to places I don't know, I carry a printed topographic/thematic map. A digital map is no use * when I have to access terrain to work out time & distance (do I have enough time, food, how do I get out?) ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/246924231/in/set-72157616056945713 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/246924231/in/set-72157... * is slightly less useful for nav when it's out of date, but still useful (where is the road?) ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/243481085/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/243481085/ * when I need to know the terrain or vegetation (how tired am I going to be going up this hill?) ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3432835303/in/set-72157623478985429 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3432835303/in/set-7215... * or show me the big picture covering a large area (how many hills do I need to climb to get to the top?) ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5308817363/in/set-72157625712635020 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5308817363/in/set-7215... However digital maps are far superior in scenarios where information is changing for a given terrain. A digital map is superior when: * showing bushfire coverage over specific area. It allowed you to ask, "what if" questions ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3298613958/in/set-72157614354760776 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3298613958/in/set-7215... * shows there's a big fire (hotspot) at this point & smoke going this way, now! ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3302263039 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3302263039 * showing bushfire coverage over a large area ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3305597012/in/set-72157614354760776 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3305597012/in/set-7215... * shows freak country wide weather pattern & quickly indicates today will not be a good day (comparison with past, indicates severity) ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3307836768/in/set-72157614354760776 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3307836768/in/set-7215... And the last case. Where am I at the moment in the city? ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5309444952/in/set-72157625712635020 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5309444952/in/set-7215... This is what I think Bray is trying to say. Map coverage of urban areas is being disrupted. This I would agree with but I don't have his faith in the hi-tech approach. I always carry a printed description of the street names & a Melway page ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melway. I simply don't trust tech to get me to a particular spot at a particular time, 100% of the time. Don't even get me started on GPS.

Groxx 15y ago
I'm quite confused by your examples. * terrain data: if that map were scanned into digital form, would it be less useful? If it were in digital form to begin with, you could probably overlay others' data / have it calculate time for you. Is this worse? * digital maps are far more likely to be up to date. * terrain / vegetation: what if it were in an overlay? Or, going the Flickr route, how about geotagged photos appearing where they were taken? If a paper map has the info, so can a digital one. * big 3D object: Google Earth? Though, granted, it's a 2D projection - there are intrinsic disadvantages there. * GPS / guided routes: well yeah, route-finding is hard, building numbers aren't 1:1 with their location, and GPS often isn't high-enough resolution to really know where you are. But what about the map aspect in a city? My iThing shows me road and structure data that's far more detailed and up-to-date than any map you can purchase and reasonably keep with you, and tells me about accidents / construction in bigger cities, accurate to the hour or better. So, the only real reasons being... bigger is better, and 3D is great (but immobile)? And battery life and durability, of course, though they weren't listed. I would find it extremely likely that you can't find digital maps with the same information as paper ones you can buy - I still need to go to the DMV to do some things, for no real, rational reason. Such is the world. But that's not intrinsic to the medium, it's merely a consequence of it being newer. Less available doesn't count, that attribute will reverse itself in time. What is it about digital that you find less effective?
- bootload 15y ago
  "... What is it about digital that you find less effective? ..." @Groxx simple, KISS. I'm not sure you go the kind of places I do. I need reliability not technology. 'Carry nothing new' is a motto that saves you from potential equipment failure. The argument you are giving is about ideal format. Mine is about reliability of use in the field. I'm more concerned about that hill I have to traverse on foot than finding "Joe's diner" or the cheapest alternative place to eat while driving a car. "... digital maps are far more likely to be up to date. ..." Agreed here cf: the digital examples I gave. Digital maps for display (phones, pda's, GPS) are really suited for showing directions from A to B & "thematic" layers of information that changes often, using the the cadastre & topography to define location. Thematic information changes often. The cadastre less often. The topography very little.

Groxx 15y ago

I'm quite confused by your examples. * terrain data: if that map were scanned into digital form, would it be less useful? If it were in digital form to begin with, you could probably overlay others' data / have it calculate time for you. Is this worse? * digital maps are far more likely to be up to date. * terrain / vegetation: what if it were in an overlay? Or, going the Flickr route, how about geotagged photos appearing where they were taken? If a paper map has the info, so can a digital one. * big 3D object: Google Earth? Though, granted, it's a 2D projection - there are intrinsic disadvantages there. * GPS / guided routes: well yeah, route-finding is hard, building numbers aren't 1:1 with their location, and GPS often isn't high-enough resolution to really know where you are. But what about the map aspect in a city? My iThing shows me road and structure data that's far more detailed and up-to-date than any map you can purchase and reasonably keep with you, and tells me about accidents / construction in bigger cities, accurate to the hour or better. So, the only real reasons being... bigger is better, and 3D is great (but immobile)? And battery life and durability, of course, though they weren't listed. I would find it extremely likely that you can't find digital maps with the same information as paper ones you can buy - I still need to go to the DMV to do some things, for no real, rational reason. Such is the world. But that's not intrinsic to the medium, it's merely a consequence of it being newer. Less available doesn't count, that attribute will reverse itself in time. What is it about digital that you find less effective?

bootload 15y ago
"... What is it about digital that you find less effective? ..." @Groxx simple, KISS. I'm not sure you go the kind of places I do. I need reliability not technology. 'Carry nothing new' is a motto that saves you from potential equipment failure. The argument you are giving is about ideal format. Mine is about reliability of use in the field. I'm more concerned about that hill I have to traverse on foot than finding "Joe's diner" or the cheapest alternative place to eat while driving a car. "... digital maps are far more likely to be up to date. ..." Agreed here cf: the digital examples I gave. Digital maps for display (phones, pda's, GPS) are really suited for showing directions from A to B & "thematic" layers of information that changes often, using the the cadastre & topography to define location. Thematic information changes often. The cadastre less often. The topography very little.