Framed Route Map - Previous Trips

The plan is that it will be hung in the "pool room" so I would want professional quality with a printer.

I'm guessing that would be the one near Ballina fair op Kmart, Kerr Street on the H'way. Ballina Recreation Mart.

Hi Michelle
You could be onto a winner here. The big issue with everyones response is that they all suggest drawing a line on the map myself. That is what I have already done in my hema book with a highlighter and it looks fine in there but for a wall mounted map in my home I would want something which looks more proffesional.

I looked at this a few months ago and the only place I found who were half interested was a company in SA. They were going to charge me per hour for the services of a pro cartoonist or drawer or similar who was going to sit down with a texta and draw the routes on. No doubt it would probably turn out ok however old mate who may have never stepped out of SA is going to take forever to draw and no doubt it would be big $$$$$

I had a very quick look at printing costs and to print a file on A1 is about $65. I guess it depends on how far you want to go whether you just sell the files or come to an arrangement with a printer and sell the printed versions or even go the whole way and get them framed as well? The frames is probably where I would draw the line and I think a printed map in a tube would be what I would be happy to purchase through the net and then get a frame sorted out myself to suit the room etc.

From a consumers point of view, if you guys sort the printing out then firstly I can see a photo of a demo online and then I don't have to worry about going through the process is finding a specific printer etc etc. It also sets a base for the standard and takes the worry or "risk factor" element out of the equation. We all know the EO team and have no issues but I'm not so sure about some random guy on the net who has a big printer. I guess if you found a printer and he was happy to be the "preffered printer" then that would ensure the quality of the end product is consistant.

Anyway, I think it is a fantastic idea and opportunity. I'm still looking for this exact idea for a Christmas present. If you want to give it a test run I would keen to give it a crack.
Thanks
Tim

Michelle,

The technology that EO can bring to bear on a project like this is pretty amazing, and I'm sure the quality of the end result would be excellent. As I see it though, the weakness is that it must be an end result. How do you add next year's trip? And the year after..... ? What about the pre-gps trips for which there are no plot files? Texta as at present?

Where there is an end point, for example an overseas visitor leaves after their trip and never expects to return, then I can foresee demand for a well produced momento. For most of us though, we will (hopefully!) want to add to our map over the years. It is a "living" and evolving thing. Would I spend over $100 on a square metre of personalised map that I'll then draw on with texta? No, not when I can buy a non-personalised one for a third of that.

Sorry to appear unsupportive, but realistically I don't think this venture would have much support from EO travellers who see their travels as ongoing.

Cheers

John

OH John - easy just cough up for the map each year after your trip or every couple of years - lol.

No really good point and one to consider however let me cover a few points:
Older data is a consideration however I have almost solved this with our driving direction system and at the moment am working on the ability for you to click on the map and have it auto route between clicks so you can TEXTA the map so to speak with the mouse and the mapping engine will auto route along the road lines. This feature is being add to the MyMap system as part of the building of your online map coupled with data upload to load up the recorded data you have saved. So the online version of your MyMap will be current and up datable at any time including current tracking etc. This will also link your place updates and blogs into a single map. You can have this map then linked and shown in your blog, other websites etc. So the only question is really do you want one on the wall, if yes then every year or two you could have one printed off for the wall and mount it in your chosen frame.

I am also working on the ability for you to print in standard formats such as A3 & A4 it is just the larger format stuff that needs to be produced externally.

This post started the talk about the output and this is something that we have talked about in the office before and we knew it would be possible. The online MyMap function was something that I have been working towards for several years (technology slowed me down) and I believe I am very close now, so this post was timely however whether the printing is looked at or not will not effect the MyMap project, it is just an extension. So the ability to do it will be installed regardless.

Thanks for the thoughts
David

David,

WOW!! That's very impressive stuff! I haven't got my head wrapped around MyMap yet, so please excuse ignorance. I can certainly see scope for printing at A3 or A4 to complement printed trip reports, but at A1 it gets pretty expensive.

Look forward to hearing more of this project.

Cheers

John

It will be really good once it is all up and running - I had a thought last night about this printing thing and as technology is changing so fast why not just plug the image file into your massive wall mounted TV system and have it in a slide show with images from your trips - it will not be long before this is in every house anyway so I may as well get in early.

I will get back to MyMap later today and try to get the click driving directions system running.
DM

I hear what you guys are saying about an "end" result when this is very much going to be a live document.
No doubt every persons situation is differant. I am pre marriage and had the opportunity to save annual leave and do two 8 and 10 week trips. For the time being I won't be doing any long trips as I can see annual leave being used for other things. Other people, if I can use the term "grey nomads" are constantly travelling all year round. Of course you also have the people who do one off trips such as overseas travellers.
Speaking for myself, I would have no hesitation in spending a few hundred dollars and get something up on the wall. No doubt it will change in the future and it something that maybe could get changed every few years.
Even if you are still on the road it gives you something to reflect on maybe?
Anyway, I will assist with your market research and see what I can find. Fingers crossed I will have something to wrap up before Christmas!
Tim