Lovers of the 'paper version' still exist but to date theevolution of product design breathed new life into the road maps. Until a few years ago, every single journey was organised down to the smallest detail in order not to get lost in the streets of cities never visited. How? By purchasing in advance or on site a map of the place of interest. Even today, one can still find individual road maps or maps attached to guidebooks of a given place and many, probably a little older, still refer to maps to orient themselves in or out of an unknown town. In parallel, most travellers use another system. That of the digital mapsonline or offline and can be consulted after downloading to one's own smartphone. A real evolution of product design which has made it possible for anyone to take advantage of a service without necessarily cluttering their pockets with additional items deemed necessary for travel. Whichever 'version' one refers to, they are both indispensable tools for getting one's bearings in completely new places because, as most people know, directions on road signs are not enough to reach the desired place. Even though tens and tens of years ago, this was precisely the only tool that could be used to get around in the most 'comfortable' way.
Map or online map? Here is the evolution of product design.
Road map - Scent of adventure. Real books or huge sheets folded in on themselves so that they can cover a large area 'within reach'. Or attached to guides tourist cities. The road maps are among the most widely used tools in the world and, unlike many other objects, never underestimated because they are necessary for travel. In cars or on foot, allow anyone to become a navigator capable of giving precise directions. They are the quintessential symbol of journey. Apart from future teenagers who are likely to see fewer and fewer of them around, even today most people associate it with a trip with family and friends or with memories of a weekend in a romantic city. Yes, because in many places in the world it is easy to meet tourists standing at an intersection with an open map looking for the right direction. And it is just as easy to get to know locals, the customs of another country and the frequent kindness and helpfulness of people. The smell of paper has a unique charm, just like that of newspapers. And however much it may tend to disappear to make way for technology, the map will always remain one of the world's most popular product design elements.
Maps on smartphones - Convenience always in your pocket. If we talk about journey car, the most recent digital forerunner was the TomTomperhaps the most famous of the navigators for four-wheelers. Subsequently theevolution of product design literally transferred these digital features to the latest generation of mobile phones, and thus, to the smartphone. Whenever and wherever you are, all you have to do is access one of the many existing apps to find out exactly where you are and search for your destination: whether it is a single street or a place of interest. Whether in Italy or abroad, not much changes. As far as Europe is concerned, today you can also use the data connection of your mobile. Overseas, on the other hand, all you have to do is download the maps of the place you intend to visit and you're done. Convenience and absolute functionality make the maps on smartphones one of the tools most used by people. Come to think of it, it is increasingly rare to find people asking for information on the street from locals everywhere. It is a custom that will increasingly disappear to make way for technology which, sentimentality aside, in this case is able to give concrete answers in real time.
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