FRIENDS Magazine
interviews
Doug Adomatis
Friends
Magazine is a publication of the the National Association of Senior
Friends, who's mission is "to understand the unique health needs
of people 50+".
Since traveling is one of the most popular retirement pastimes, and hiking around with a GPS is healthy activity, it makes sense for FRIENDS Magazine to publish an article entitled "Hiking Goes High-Tech" (July/August 2004)
I am honored that FRIENDS Magazine asked me to contribute to the article by explaining travel by gps.
Jason. Is Travel by GPS the same as Geocaching?
Doug: Well... not really. At Travel by GPS, I provide GPS waypoints, routes, and tracks that guide you through complete adventure travel experiences. Geocaching, on the other hand, is a game or sport where the objective is to find a single location.
Jason: How does someone get started traveling by GPS?
Doug: Surprisingly
you don't need a GPS! However you'll get more out of the experience
if you take advantage of the GPS data I provide. At Travel by GPS
you don't need a GPS to discover interesting places to visit. On all
my GPS map description pages I have text, maps and photos that provide
the reader with enough info so that even non-GPS users can share the
experience.
Jason. How can Travel by GPS be a fun activity for
the whole family?
Doug: Navigating with maps has always been a fun activity. GPS navigation is interaction with an active map. At Travel by GPS, I provide GPS Maps for all kinds of recreational activities, from sightseeing to mountain climbing.
Here's a tip for GPS'ers: Next time
you're on the family road trip and you get the "When are we going
to get there?" question from the back seat, simply hand them
the GPS and show them how to read the Distance To... and Estimated
Time of Arrival. Not only will the kids be able to answer their own
question, they'll stay occupied and maybe even have fun learning something
about land navigation!
Jason. How much does a standard GPS cost?
Doug: You can get a basic GPS for less than a hundred bucks these days. However, the most basic units will only provide you with the most basic info like latitude, longitude, speed, and direction. I highly recommend spending a few more dollars to get a "mapping" GPS. Mapping GPS units have a built in basemap (major roads, political boundaries, large bodies of water, etc.) and they typically have a connection which allows you to transfer enhanced maps and data from a computer.
Jason: What other equipment is needed?
Doug: Never rely
on GPS as your sole means of navigation, especially if you are traveling
to a remote location in unfamiliar territory. Things can happen, like
dropping the GPS in the water or forgetting to take spare batteries.
Always carry, and know how to use, paper map and compass.
Jason: I was asked to help readers understand how
locating something by using coordinates works, perhaps by providing
the coordinates for geographic icons like the Statue of Liberty or
the Alamo. Do you know the coordinates for any of these, or where
I can go to get them?
Doug: We find locations
using a grid system everyday. People commonly give directions by saying
things like "at the third street, take a left and go down four
houses. GPS enables us to be more precise. Most coordinates are published
in terms of latitude and longitude. In addition to location data published
at Travel by GPS, you find coordinates of popular locations at web
sites like Swopnet,
Wayhoo, or Waypoint.org
where you'll find the coordinates for the Statue of Liberty
http://www.waypoint.org/gps4-ny.htm
Technically speaking, we need to be a careful when talking about coordinate
systems. There are several different coordinate systems. Some are
square grids like the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator), and some
are not so square like our familiar latitude, longitude system. Even
when we talk about Lat/Lon we have to be careful about map datums
and projections, but this is probably too detailed for your readers.
Jason: To sum up, what is the most important thing you'd like our readers to know about traveling by GPS?
Doug: GPS technology is a fun and exciting
way to communicate unique travel experiences. In the future, I expect
more news and media agencies will offer GPS data as a means of interactivity
with their electronic magazine, tour and travel content.
Jason: Anything else I haven't touched on that you
feel is important?
Doug: Considering your audience, you might talk a
little about "virtual travel" - the ability to experience
a place without having to travel there. Just like sharing photos of
your recent trip, GPS data can be used in conjunction with maps and
images to create a virtual travel experience.
Jason: Wow...great insight Doug. On behalf of everyone
at National Association of Senior Friends (www.seniorfriends.org),
we really appreciate your sharing the time and perspective.
