Virtual Compass:
Now you can teach the whole class to use a compass and map at the same time. New portable version available, download to USB stick, use anywhere.

NEW! Download 1.0 Portable - 18MB

Run v0.96 Online - 290KB

In Brief

Virtual Compass is a fully working simulation of a map reading compass, that you can project as large as you like onto a screen, allowing you to demonstrate how to use a compass to a large group.

Students can follow your demonstration using a real compass and map, or by using the software themselves on the classroom computers.

New portable version available for download. Use without installing, run directly from a USB memory stick, use offline with no need for internet access.

Download Resource

NEW! Download 1.0 Portable - 18MB

Run v0.96 Online - 290KB

How to Use

Using the Compass

The compass has 5 controls to help you in your demonstrations:

Rotate Baseplate

This button is found on the compass Baseplate.

Click and drag this button to rotate the compass base plate on the screen.

Move Compass

This button is found on the compass Baseplate.

Click and drag this button to move the compass on the screen

Scale Compass

This button is found on the compass Baseplate.

Click and drag this button horizontally to change the size of the compass on the screen.

Drag left to shrink the compass on the screen, drag right to enlarge the compass on the screen.

Rotate Dial (Bezel)

Click and drag any part of the Dial (or Bezel) to rotate it on the Baseplate.

Reset Compass

This button is found on the control bar at the bottom of the screen.

Click this button to restore the compass to it's original position and size on the screen.

Inserting Maps - Desktop Version

Import Map

You can demonstrate using the compass with any map image available on your computer in JPEG, GIF or PNG format.

Either press the "Import Map" button:

Or in the menu choose FILE > IMPORT MAP.

Browse your computer and select a map image in either JPEG, GIF or PNG format. The image will load into the Virtual Compass.

Inserting Maps - Online Version

Find a Map Image

You can demonstrate using the compass with any map image available on the internet provided it is in JPEG format. A Google image search for "os maps" might be a good place to look.

Once you have found a suitable map image in JPEG format, click the image thumbnail to go to the full size version.

Copy the Map Image Link

When the next page comes up, right click the "See full size image" link and choose Copy link location if you are using Firefox, or Copy shortcut if you are using Internet Explorer.

Load the Map Image into Virtual Compass

Return to the Virtual Compass software and paste the link into the "ENTER MAP IMAGE" box. Then press the green download map button.

Depending on how large the image is, and how slow the server or internet connection, it may take a short while for the map to load.

If you have been waiting for more than about a minute, it may be that the image is no longer available online, or that it is not a JPEG, and you should try another image (it is a good idea to make sure the images you need are available in advance of the lesson). Future versions of this software will also allow you to select images from your own computer.

Once the map image is loaded it will appear on the screen like this.

Using the Map

Once the map image is loaded there are 4 controls to help you in your demonstrations:

Rotate Map

This button is found on the controls panel at the bottom of the screen.

Click and drag this button horizontally to rotate the map on the screen.

Drag left to rotate anti-clockwise (or counter-clockwise), drag right to rotate clockwise.

Move Map

You can move the map by simply clicking and dragging the map itself.

You can also use this button found on the controls panel at the bottom of the screen.

Click and drag this button to move the map on the screen

Scale Map

This button is found on the controls panel at the bottom of the screen.

Click and drag this button horizontally to change the size of the map on the screen.

Drag left to shrink the map on the screen, drag right to enlarge the map on the screen.

Reset Map

This button is found on the control bar at the bottom of the screen.

Click this button to restore the map to it's original position and size on the screen as it was when it was first loaded.

Note From the Creator

In the "old" days we would have copied a map onto acetate and used an OHP to project the map and compass silhouette onto the screen. But these days OHPs are hard to come by (where I work anyway) and so an up to date alternative was needed. I love to develop interactive software in my own time, and this project has been one I really enjoyed.

Happy navigating.