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Urbanware

August 1, 2003
Urban Mapping Founder to Speak at International Map Trade Association Conference

Urban Mapping Founder Ian White will address an educational session of the IMTA Americas at this September's conference. The topic, entitled "Humanizing Maps", appears below. White will speak on Tuesday, September 8 in Santa Barbara, California.

Ways of finding tools have served wide ranges of people throughout history. From the earliest known maps in 2000 BCE to current location-based services using GIS tools, the role of maps in society has changed enormously. This can be attributed to advances in technology, but also through changing needs in society. This workshop will address the historical context of maps and how they have evolved over time to suit the needs of specific user groups.

Over the course of history, directional, surveying/exploration, scientific/social, business applications and others have all 'democratized' the user base of maps—no longer is information controlled by a select few with access to power. With the spread of education and technology, users have become more sophisticated and their numbers have increased. However, has there been a similar shift in the design of maps, accounting for the intended audience? This talk will argue that such a change is required to make cartographic data more user-friendly. It will include a presentation of historical and current examples and make prescriptions for the future.