We-Map Orientation Method Suitable for General Public with Weak Sense of Orientation

Abstract

We-Map, a map for the general public, whose core thinking is that cartographers do not need to go through strict professional training to make a map belonged to themselves. The existing maps have strict geographic orientation because their production not only needs cartographers have solid professional knowledge and strict training but also relies on traditional longitude and latitude grid line to determine geographic orientation (i.e. the north, south, east and west) on the map. However, some people in the general public have a weak sense of direction. Although they can understand the geographic orientation on the map, they cannot quickly convert to the geographic orientation in real life. Such kinds of people are obviously impossible to mapping based on geographic directions. Therefore, we-map orientation method suitable for general public with weak sense of direction was proposed to solve the problem. First, general public with weak sense of direction utilize their own position and surrounding spatial objects as a reference to determine map orientation, no longer use a certain direction of the traditional longitude and latitude grid line (i.e. geographic orientation) for orientation; Then, it should be produced from the personal perspective of the map users, not from the perspective of a professional cartographer when a user makes a map; Last, the map will be shared with other users who need it urgently or on one’s own social platforms (e.g. WeChat, Facebook, Weibo and Twitter et al.) for the convenience of others after its production is completed.