How about an atlas?

Jellby · 02-24-2009, 07:15 AM

I've always liked maps, and sometimes when reading fiction (in the real world, not fantasy) or non-fiction, I miss a map of the zone where the story is set up, so I can see where the cities, rivers, etc. are.

So... what would you think of an atlas for ebook readers? Can you produce any ideas on the format and interface? I was thinking that maybe having a world map with links (in text, below the image) to continents, then maps of continents with links to countries, and maybe links to further divisions for large countries, would be fine enough at first. The maps would not be incredibly detailed, just borders, main cities (perhaps rivers)...

Is there any project around? Source for the maps? Comments?

PS. I'm not sure I will make this, but if no one else does, I may bite the bullet.

HarryT · 02-24-2009, 07:40 AM

That's a great idea! I'm not sure where you'd get public domain maps from, though, I'm afraid.

Jellby · 02-25-2009, 11:51 AM

From the blank maps in Wikipedia, I managed to do this. Now only cities, rivers, mountains and sea names (and scale, and latitude/longitude, and compass...) are missing

zelda_pinwheel · 02-25-2009, 12:00 PM

that is a brilliant idea !! i love maps as well and am constantly consulting google maps to check something... i would love to have an atlas on my liseuse. i will see if i can find any pd maps around. i can't think of any off the top of my head but you never know...

GeoffC · 02-25-2009, 01:04 PM

Interesting idea - though I don't know how it's going to translate into b&w.

(Just a small niggle, Northern Ireland isn't part of Great Britain)..

HarryT · 02-25-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

(Just a small niggle, Northern Ireland isn't part of Great Britain)..

A fact which about 1% of people who actually live in Great Britain are probably aware of, other than smart-alecs like you and me

.

GeoffC · 02-25-2009, 01:22 PM

Hay ! Fame at last - I'm a smart-alec ......like Harry.....

Jellby · 02-25-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

(Just a small niggle, Northern Ireland isn't part of Great Britain)..

Believe me, I know, but according to ISO, the 2-letter code for the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is GB (and not UK). Also, the channel islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom (nor of Great Britain, of course), and they are coloured yellow... that's why in the legend I'll put "United Kindom (and dependencies)". In spite of this, the CIA maps label these islands as "(U.K.)".

Jellby · 02-25-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A fact which about 1% of people who actually live in Great Britain are probably aware of, other than smart-alecs like you and me

.

Aren't smart-alecs part of that 1%?

HarryT · 02-26-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Believe me, I know, but according to ISO, the 2-letter code for the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is GB (and not UK). Also, the channel islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom (nor of Great Britain, of course), and they are coloured yellow... that's why in the legend I'll put "United Kindom (and dependencies)". In spite of this, the CIA maps label these islands as "(U.K.)".

That's why I say that it's one of those "technical" things that nobody actually gives too hoots about in practice. Although it is officially "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", in reality, people use "GB" and "UK" interchangeably and, as you say, the ISO country code is "GB", not "UK".

The Channel Islands are not even in the EU, by the way. No VAT there!

HarryT · 02-26-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Aren't smart-alecs part of that 1%?

Yes. Sorry if I was unclear about that

.

Sweetpea · 02-26-2009, 02:58 AM

Ohhhh!

I love that idea! Very often I've wanted to look at a map, when I didn't have one handy (but I always have my PDA handy...)

DaleDe · 02-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's a great idea! I'm not sure where you'd get public domain maps from, though, I'm afraid.

I suggest you start here: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/

Dale

igorsk · 02-28-2009, 05:01 PM

Not actually an atlas, but it does have maps of all countries:
CIA World Factbook (EPUB)

nrapallo · 02-28-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Not actually an atlas, but it does have maps of all countries:
CIA World Factbook (EPUB)

And already in ebook form for:
CIA: The World Factbook 2005 (.prc) or CIA: The World Factbook 2005 (.imp for REB1200)

02-24-2009, 07:15 AM	#1
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	How about an atlas? I've always liked maps, and sometimes when reading fiction (in the real world, not fantasy) or non-fiction, I miss a map of the zone where the story is set up, so I can see where the cities, rivers, etc. are. So... what would you think of an atlas for ebook readers? Can you produce any ideas on the format and interface? I was thinking that maybe having a world map with links (in text, below the image) to continents, then maps of continents with links to countries, and maybe links to further divisions for large countries, would be fine enough at first. The maps would not be incredibly detailed, just borders, main cities (perhaps rivers)... Is there any project around? Source for the maps? Comments? PS. I'm not sure I will make this, but if no one else does, I may bite the bullet.

02-25-2009, 11:51 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	From the blank maps in Wikipedia, I managed to do this. Now only cities, rivers, mountains and sea names (and scale, and latitude/longitude, and compass...) are missing Attached Thumbnails

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02-24-2009, 07:40 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's a great idea! I'm not sure where you'd get public domain maps from, though, I'm afraid.

02-25-2009, 12:00 PM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	that is a brilliant idea !! i love maps as well and am constantly consulting google maps to check something... i would love to have an atlas on my liseuse. i will see if i can find any pd maps around. i can't think of any off the top of my head but you never know...

02-25-2009, 01:04 PM	#5
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Interesting idea - though I don't know how it's going to translate into b&w. (Just a small niggle, Northern Ireland isn't part of Great Britain)..

02-25-2009, 01:22 PM	#7
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Hay ! Fame at last - I'm a smart-alec ......like Harry.....

02-26-2009, 02:58 AM	#12
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Ohhhh! I love that idea! Very often I've wanted to look at a map, when I didn't have one handy (but I always have my PDA handy...)

02-28-2009, 05:01 PM	#14
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Not actually an atlas, but it does have maps of all countries: CIA World Factbook (EPUB)

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