Preference Poll #2b (Mini-Map Rotate)

There is a checkbox in Preferences/General called "Rotate Mini-Map."

If checked, the map spins around your avatar. If un-checked, your avatar spins within the map and North is always at the top---something I personally *much* prefer.

This poll is to see how others use it.

rotate. i like to quickly see which direction i am heading in, and rotate is familiar in its 'compass-like' behaviour.

Hmm.. i thought compasses always pointed North (or South - depending on what pole of the earth you are currently closest to).... rather than the compass pointing in the direction you are heading...

so wouldn't the "rotate" work opposite of the compass? and the "non-rotating-and-fixed" mini-map (with it always pointing north) be functioning more compass like?


....of course i could be all wrong, i haven't used a compass in over 20 years.. and even then it was just in girl scouts.

That said.. i have my minimap set to "rotate" ..like you apparently do.

north will always point north in a compass. the effect being that since the compass is held in your hand it spins inside the glass ball.

Why do you ask?

No! I don't want my minimap rotating. Maps should always have north at the top!

When I look at the minimap it has a cone that indicates which way I'm looking / pointing and it's easier (for me) to know if I'm looking east, west, south, etc by seeing which way the cone is pointing. I don't need to find and read little NSEW letters if the map never rotates.

My GPS in my car is set the same way - N is always at the top, and the little car-icon rotates around, as opposed to the little car-icon always facing up while the map rotates.

Maps should always have N at the top!

-Atashi

Thank you!

so when you are heading south the little car icon is driving 'down' or backward. when you turn left the little car turns right... it works for you but i get disoriented just thinking about it.

I find it much easier for me to keep my orientation, especially when exploring, if the mini-map always has North at the top.

Yes, why this and the other similar but unrelated poll about Preference settings? Are you creating a new product? Are you trying to put together a proposal for Linden Lab to implement? Will there be more such polls? What are you doing with these polls? [/INDENT]

Even more confusingly, when I'm looking at the GPS to figure out where I want to go, if I'm going east for instance and the road I need on the wee map is on top then I know I have to turn left. I just rotate my perception internally to fit the wee car icon on the GPS.

And in SL, I rotate my internal perception around the map, rather than have the map rotate around me.

Your mileage of course may vary

-Atashi

I am merely curious how others view SL, feeling those who participate in the polls are curious also.

I personally have what I feel is a most satisfactory graphics set-up and SL experience and am able to use the polls and the third-party discussion to illustrate the advantage/disadvantage of preference options.
No.
No, but I'm confident some associated with Linden Labs may read these polls with interest.

Yes. I have many more to post.
I am reading them, just like you, and enjoying the participation and responses.

For me, the mini map is not so much a map as it is a radar hud to help me avoid running into the little green dots while I'm waiting for the world to rez (and the avatar themselves may still be invisible). I couldn't do this as easily if it didn't rotate. -- KC

Disabling mini-map spin is the FIRST option I set when using a freshly downloaded SL client.

I can't STAND it when it spins, I lose all sense of direction.

males and females read maps differently.
females can't read maps as well as males.
results will show this.

but males dont read maps, not do they ask for directions. theyd rather drive around in circles for an hour, all the while insisting 'im not lost'.

Others may not know where I am... and think me lost.

But I'm never lost, I'm always right here where I am... wherever that may be.

I need another option...I hate the mini map, so I never have it open.

Yeah! another option. I never use it.