some people defenitly think that maps are important: radio show on five ways of mapping.

and for sure eduard tufte is interested in these visual explanations. recently he was writing about road and exit numbering. he is wondering which system of numbering is more efficent: numbering exits in a way that they imply the distance traveled or numbering in a linear fashion.

david ness (discussion at chris) on the other side believes, that he will find his way around without maps.

decreasing utility of maps in general nearly sounds like a political statement. just met two people who got lost in a country they didn´t know. they were relying on an old map with old street names and numbers that didn´t exist anymore. simply imposible do find their way.

and sometimes maps are good for calming down. pero que es otra pais.