Column: Use Internet Maps and you will never lose your way!

My eleventh column in “Vijaya Next” (Kannada) was about mapping applications. Main points were,

• One of the most often applications used on the mobiles these days is Maps.
• Devices like mobile phones have GPS receivers help you identify your exact location. There are 5 GPS satellites in orbit which are used by civil & military in various applications.
• GPS is owned and operated by the U.S. Government as a national resource. The first GPS satellite was launched on November 26, 1990, and the most recent launch was on May 28, 2010.
• GPS has become a widely used and useful tool for commerce, scientific uses, tracking and surveillance. GPS’s accurate timing facilitates everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids. Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately. [from Wiki]
• Qualcomm tested GPS receivers in a mobile phone successfully in Nov 2004.
• The popular map providers in India are Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapMyIndia.

In my opinion, these applications are huge blessings. Have you ever asked people for directions before? Many confidently give you directions even if they don’t know what you are asking for. And the other phrase you hear the most is “Go straight” even if they mean “Go Right” or “Go Left”.

You can enter the address or landmark you want to travel to and these mapping programs show you the exact route you need to take. You can even enter a landmark like “Manipal Hospital” and it will show you the directions from where you currently are.

MapMyIndia has interesting products, including for your car. They are the first ones to have introduced Hindi in online maps.

Bangalore Transport Information System has used maps in a very nice way. You can get the bus routes, track buses in Bangalore.