Learning To Read Maps (2nd ed, 1980)

[Music] [Music] you look lost do you know where you're going do you know where you are maybe I can help I've got a soft spot for lost people and you're lost here catch [Music] this is a photograph that's right a photograph it's a very special kind of photograph because it was taken from an airplane flying overhead and looking straight down on this area it shows a lot of places you'll recognize there's the bridge that crosses the river the little park that's not far away and at the corner of that building there's a funny little spec that looks terribly lost that's [Music] you now that you have this bird's eyee view you need to know that right now you're here and the place you're trying to get to is over there with the number of Clues I've given you you should be able to find your way please don't get lost again [Music] are you still here what happened [Music] hm the photograph has so much extra information that it's confusing all of the buildings cars and other things get in the way and you can't see how to get from here to there I think I can fix that this is a lot easier to understand in that photograph it's so simple and uh I think you missed something let's try it again here's the photograph and a simpler way of showing the same area I got rid of the photograph and let symbols show where places and things are a symbol is a drawing that stands for or replaces something else like these orange boxes that stand for buildings the little tree designs and green color that show where the park is and the Deep blue that stands for the river as you can see color can be a very important symbol you know a map is a tool that helps you find your way from one place to another and with these new Clues this thing is really starting to look like a map [Music] w [Music] you still look lost so the map didn't work for you huh what are you going to do now your plan is to keep on walking until you find it that's great you'll just get more lost than you are now why don't you just take a [Music] taxi H I'd help you out but I'm a little short myself wait a second where's that map I gave you [Laughter] [Music] what you've got there isn't really a map not yet a map must have a title so you know what it's a map off a map must also have a legend the legend shows you what a map symbols mean of course you already know what a symbol is a symbol a symbol the symbols are all the line dots boxes and colors on a map that stand for real things you look like this is starting to make sense to you well I have another clue that should send you on your way a map should also have the names of streets buildings and places of interest printed on it so you can easily find where you are and how to get where you're going pretty neat huh hey look now you can find the [Music] zoo let's try another one see if you can find this very beautiful fountain [Music] hello there oh sorry but I just had a thought do you know in which direction you're going no I mean which direction north south east or west most Maps will have one of these it's called a direction pointer it will show you all four directions and if you happen to know which way is North and point the pointer in that direction something neat happens the streets on the map will be pointing in the same direction as the real streets out there so a building to the right of where you're at on the map will be on your right hand side it also works with left front and back I told you it was neat and I was right wasn't I hey wait how far do you have to go to get there if you don't know how far it is then how do you know you'll be able to get there on time this is called a scale and it will help you find the distance between places to use the scale you must first know where you're going but you already know that then you need to know where you are which is right here then you need a piece of paper and and something to write with use the paper to measure between where you are now and where you're going hey wait you can't measure through the buildings unless you can fly you're going to be walking around the buildings measure along the streets and around the buildings where you'll have to walk that's right Mark the paper to make a record of how far it is from here to where you're going now hold the paper up to the scale and it'll show you how far it is in miles or kilometers it's not very far but it is getting late I think you'd better [Music] hurry well I'm glad to see you made it a map can be a very useful tool if you know how to use it just remember that a map is like a photograph taken from an airplane because it gives you a bird's eye view of the world a map uses symbols to show where places and things are a map has a title and a legend the legend tells you what all of the symbols mean a map has the names of streets buildings and other important features printed right on it a map has a direction pointer and a scale the scale helps you find the distance between places you're such a patient person just standing there listening politely and oh my I've got to get going good luck [Music] [Music]