Touch Media, which creates the Route 66 Navigation smartphone app, announced Thursday it’s collaborated with Route 66 historian and author Jim Hinckley to provide more than 1,000 descriptions for points of interest along the route.
The descriptions should go live on the app within the next two weeks.
According to a news release from the company:
With the unique app’s feature, approximately 200 meters before the POI (point of interest), travelers will see a notification on the display to ensure they do not miss attractions or historic sites on Route 66. When the user clicks on the notification, information including description and other information written by Hinckley will appear. This is one example of how the app is transforming the Route 66 experience.
Marian Pavel of Touch Media, developer of the Route 66 Navigation app and Mother Road Route 66 Passport, said, “We are honored that an acclaimed Route 66 author like Jim Hinckley has agreed to work together to ensure Route 66 Navigation is the definitive Route 66 travel guide. Who can present the “must-see” places on the Mother Road better than the author who has been working to promote Route 66 for more than 30 years?”
Jim Hinckley, creator of the Jim Hinckley’s America travel network, noted: “As our slogan is ‘Telling People Where to Go Since 1990,’ it is a distinct pleasure to work with Touch Media and help create a Route 66 travel guide for the modern era.”
Touch Media sent over a couple of examples of the new points of interest on the app. They show a photo, address, hours, phone number, map coordinates and eight to 10 sentences by Hinckley that describes the site.
Hinckley has written 19 books, including “The Route 66 Encyclopedia,” “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” and “Murder and Mayhem on the Main Street of America.”
Pavel, who is based in Slovakia, also published a free guidebook download, “On Route 66 for the First Time.”
(Images of the Route 66 Navigation app and Jim Hinckley courtesy of Touch Media)
Great idea. But I sure hope that “200 meters before POI” value is adjustable. At a mere 30mph, that’s only 15 seconds of warning. At 55mph, 8 seconds. Hardly enough time to grab you phone, enter your security code, and tap the icon. By the time you read what it is, it’s already way behind you, leading to a LOT of frustrating turn-arounds to go back and see things, take photos, etc.
https://www.timecalculator.net/speed-distance-time-calculator
Just my opinion, but I would think a minute, or a couple of minutes notice would be better.
That’s an interesting observation, Dave. We’ll see if Marian has a response to it. I personally think 30 seconds of warning would be enough.