OldMaps Online: A New Way to Discover History!
Engaging AI-supported interaction with vintage maps and History that may need a naming upgrade . . .
Image: by Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay.
GENERAL INTEREST
Figure 1 MapsOnline homepage sharing the two main searches: Explore Maps or Discover History.
MAIN TOOLBAR FEATURES MENU
Search box: find a particular location directly
Project: learn more about OldMap features
Community: find out how to contribute content to the site
News: read about site- and map-related events
My App: learn how to download the OldMaps app for mobile devices
Figure 2 Explore Maps main user page.
EXLPORE MAPS / DISCOVER HISTORY
The “Explore Maps” and “Discover History” user pages offer identical features, with the exception that “Explore Maps” initially shares a list of maps related to the geographical area, while “Discover History” requires the user to click on a “Maps” button.
Both pages contain:
An interactive map of the geographical area
An interactive timeline
A tool menu
Clicking on the map shifts the page focus to “History” (the map list disappears); however, a “Maps” button becomes available to the user.
Figure 3 Explore Maps main user page with History and Maps buttons.
Selecting a geographical area lets the user:
Reference the “history box” (upper left-hand corner): shares the location’s Wikipedia entry
If the “history box” does not appear, clicking on a location’s flag will trigger it
It can be closed by clicking the “x” in the upper right-hand corner
Access the “World History Atlas”: showcases notable key rulers/leaders, people, and battles from the period (associated with the timeline along the bottom of the page)
Clicking on a ruler/leader, person, or battle generates a pop-up panel with the subject’s Wikipedia article
Maneuver the timeline: dragging the icon on the timeline changes the year; rolling the mouse over the highlighted year lets the user change the time by individual years (either higher or lower)
Use the tools menu: + zooms in on the map; - zooms out on the map; the compass icon resets the bearing to north; the multicolored diamond icon takes the user to the maptiler.com (“This fully featured map development environment is easy to use and provides super smooth navigation, 3D landscapes, and advanced features like Augmented Reality.”)
Figure 4 Notable people from the region during the period selected in the timeline.
MAPS MENU
Figure 5 The Maps menu.
BROWSE EXTRACTS FROM SCANNED MAPS tab (far-left icon): takes a close-up perspective of the chosen map
DISCOVER ENTIRE DOCUMENTS tab: shows the entire map
ALL tab:
Shares maps related to the time period selected in the timeline
Highlights/boxes out the area referenced by a particular map against the larger geographical area on the main screen and then superimposes the map on the appropriate geographical area (once the map is chosen via double-click)
Lets users mark the map as a “favorite” by clicking the heart icon
Figure 6 The "Army of the Cumberland" map superimposed on the associated geographic area on the U.S. map.
PRIVATE tab: allows users to upload their own maps
FAVORITES tab: collects all the maps the user indicates are their favorite
Figure 7 Map tools menu.
Maps tools menu:
Discover: adapts the view to incorporate the map within the region
Compare: provides information about the particular map
An additional menu associated with a map view lets the user: adjust the overlaid map’s transparency, controls its transformation (the map’s physical appearance) and margin (the view of the map scanned from its source or as it has been cropped to share), and include additional base maps, such as street or satellite views (these features are available with a paid account)
3D: shares a dimensional perspective of the map
Document: view the map within its source (such as a book or magazine)