engleski

Parallel Worlds of Screen Cartography

Nowadays map production and map design take place on the screen. Consequently, there are three different final products, which differ from each other, since there are different map bearers. A traditional map bearer, no matter whether a map is conventionally or digitally made, is mostly paper. This paper does not deal with design conditions for a paper map, since they have already been determined for a long time. Two other final products of a map made on the screen are either a map used on a larger cathode ray screen and LCD screen or a map used for LBS (Location Based Service). Decrease of the screen graphic quality is caused by a screen pixel, which is the lowest limit of the pixel map transformed into a screen pixel structure. In this way the minimum dimensions of a screen map are more rough in comparison to a conventional map and are dependent on the screen type, -size and -resolution. LBS (Location Based Service) researches focus on invention and use of new, reduced cartographic representations, which are more similar to a sketch than a map. Since LBS are made for PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), the PDA screen with size 80 mm x 50 mm is a factor with a limiting effect. There are several research tendencies. A digital map used on large screens or the one used on PDA has to be differently designed in terms of contents, in order to fulfil its function. Therefore the research field of map generalization is being expended, since map generalization depends on the kind of a final product, that is, it gives no universal generalization process. Since there is a human in the background of all researches, either as a researcher, map designer or map user, this aspect should be considered more closely. Technical aspects have already been investigated quite well, but physiological aspect has not been sufficiently considered. Minimum dimensions of cartographic signs and other graphic elements depend on perception possibilities and/or on eye physiology. This investigation has been achieved only for a conventional map. The map is designed on the screen for at least three different final products. In this case a physiological aspect is more closely considered. The existence of the parallel worlds - digital process of map production, the use of a digital map and the use of a traditional paper map – demand, in terms of physiology, the creation of the different but equivalent environments. A part of the insufficient insight is based on an eye straining during map production on the screen, regardless of the kind of a final product that will thus be developed. Eye straining of a final digital map user is another research area. Digital technology of map production should be researched and developed along with parallel existence of different legends of cartographic signs and other graphic map elements. The idea is that there is a working legend of cartographic signs which should create an ergonomic working environment for a map designer. At the same time a substitute element should be designed for each cartographic element from working catalogue of cartographic signs. This substitute element should be present in a digital catalogue - for a digital map as well as for a printing catalogue – for a paper map.

working catalogue of cartographic signs; digital catalogue of cartographic signs for a digital map; printing catalogue of cartographic signs for a paper map

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