zooming
introduction
Even without sophisticated Web GIS technology it is possible to interact with maps on the Web.
In the example that is under construction still, JavaScript will be used to simulate a magnifying glass: moving the mouse over the 1:50 000 map reveals the 1:25 000 map. Clicking on hotspots on the map may take you to another Web document related to the hotspot.
More examples of this map interaction can be seen on the Web at:
scale factor
When viewing the interactive map at the official Web site of the Swiss national atlas, the scale difference is much smoother. This might be attributed to the fact that the brain identifies more points of reference on a topographical map (as in this example) rather than on a physical map.
magnifying glass
The example links below the map all use a magnifying glass that measures 90 pixels in both width and height. The JavaScript has been modified by Neumann such that users can customise the dimensions of the magnifying glass. Is there any reasoning behind this, or is it just to a gadget? To experiment with this interaction, go to the prototype version of the Swiss national atlas.
linking
Apart from magnifying the map view, the map offers more interaction. In this example, users can obtain further information on the hotspot. This can be seen at the Web site of Ytong Turkey.When users click on the various towns in the map, they are referred to a Web document showing the address of the Ytong branch in that town. In that example, the hotspots can only be squares. The various aspects of hotspots will be discussed in the next example of interactive maps.