November 22, 2008  How To Give Directions and Way Find  How Far
to Wall Drug? This post came about after reading about a study
out of the Illinois State University that tested different
methods of giving directions; either by “birds-eye” perspective
with cardinal directions (go north 2 kilometers, turn east) or
by route perspective (Mettent deux blocs à la Rue Voltaire,
tournez à gauche). There is also a post here full of comments
and suggestions for giving directions.  In the days before
mobile telephones, it was necessary to give better directions,
since communication was impossible en route (I'm at the east
entrance, where are you?). Back when I threw (delivered) the LA
Times, the route perspective was used. This got me to think of
an ideal way to give directions, and a couple of issues that
aren’t fully addressed in either link. One has to do with the
syntax of direction giving, and the other has to do with the
details of the circumstances.  When thinking about the syntax,
I’m assuming that the way finder