Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!ucbcad!zodiac!klee!klee From: klee@klee.ads.com (Ken Lee) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: spatial reference in natural language Message-ID: <1092@zodiac.UUCP> Date: Tue, 1-Dec-87 13:02:24 EST Article-I.D.: zodiac.1092 Posted: Tue Dec 1 13:02:24 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Dec-87 20:49:17 EST References: <6818@sunybcs.UUCP> <3540002@wdl1.UUCP> Sender: news@zodiac.UUCP Reply-To: klee@klee.UUCP (Ken Lee) Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mt. View, CA (415) 941-3912 Lines: 19 I think most people don't really use a formal coordinate system, unless they're in very unknown territory. Here in California, directions are commonly given as "toward {San Francisco, San Jose, LA, San Diego, or other large city}" or "near exit XXX on Highway YYY". I used to live in Hawaii and found that the mountain/ocean reference that you mentioned is rarely used now (except among tourists). A more common reference system is to name neighborhoods. I suppose this is common in other areas with distinct, deep-rooted neighborhoods (e.g., Boston, New York). I often hike in the mountains near here. I could use my compass to determine bearings, etc., but that's not very useful when there are alot of obsticals. I usually determine my directions from a map (oriented north/south), but remember them as "toward that mountain" or "up the canyon" or "along the river". Hope this is helpful. Ken Lee klee@ads.arpa