Page 22 - ONLINE SERVICE

ONLINE MAPPING AND ROUTE PLANNING

Many websites have been created to
help their target audience to navigate
from one location to another. These
websites are providing the service of
route planning, some for free and some
for a minimal cost. However companies
such as Google create this kind of route
planning and online mapping service for
free due to the technology they have.
The route planning websites are becoming increasingly popular and a much cheaper option, rather than
buying and having to keep updating the conventional satellite navigation device regularly. The route
planning software is for the target audience or people who wish to travel and have the ability to access
the internet. Online mapping is increasingly used by businesses and students. Online Mapping and Route
Planning uses Global Positioning System (GPS) to view and locate new places. It is mostly used by
tourists or visitors of a new environment or area. It helps users to find their way or direction to a place.
They are very fast and convenient compared to plotting a route with a paper map. It makes travelling
and driving comfortable and faster.

Characteristics

 They can provide directions in graphical form / maps.
 Text based directions can be produced.
 Directions/maps can be printed and saved for later reference.
 Zoom-in/out feature can be applied so that you can see different levels of detail.
 Places of interest/ fuel stations/ hotels etc. can be shown.
 They can allow you to plot multiple destinations per journey - these are called 'way points'.
 You can select road types you want to use e.g. motorways, 'A' roads etc.
 Users can select fastest/shortest routes.
 Different routes may be offered

HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF ONLINE SERVICE IN MAPPING AND ROUTE PLANNING

• GOOGLE MAPS
• RAC ROUTE PLANNER

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