American Vista AtlasAmerican Vista Atlas
Atlases are one of the most popular categories of CD-ROM products. In fact, you probably got one with your multimedia computer. But are they any better than the printed atlases we grew up with? Do they use the power of CD-ROMs to improve on the printed products? American Vista Atlas uses multimedia to bring you an atlas that could never have been contained in a printed book.
Like all US atlases, the heart of American Vista Atlas is a collection of state-by-state maps. Each state has three maps: a resource map, showing minerals and land use; a topography map; and a detail map, showing cities and towns, county boundaries, and major interstate highways. These detail maps are large enough that the map doesn't fit on the screen, and you have to pan from side to side to see the entire map. There are also street maps or regional maps for major cities.
There's more state-by-state information, too. There's a rather limited set of statistics on each state: economic data, like a list of principal products, and a description of the political organization of the state. You can also view a the state flag and the state seal.
If you're interested in US history, this CD-ROM has features you'll appreciate. There's a timeline of US history, which gives brief descriptions of major events, and historical sketches of each state. There's also a collection of historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.
All these features duplicate what you'd expect to find in a printed atlas. It's the multimedia features that make the difference. There are 22 narrated slide shows, describing events in American history from the Viking explorers to the war in Vietnam. There are also two sets of sound recordings. The first gives examples of American regional speech, from a New York cab driver to a native Hawaiian. The second set are regional folk music examples, from the Smithsonian collection of recordings American music. These sound recordings give a taste of the diversity of American culture in a way no printed book could.
If you're looking for a new CD-ROM atlas, look at American Vista Atlas; you'll find features you never found in an atlas before.
