Sure, it’s great to have GPS and other wayfinding Apps on your smartphone just waiting to help you get your bearings in a strange new place. But what if you’re traveling on vacation, and would like to stay away from all the text and voice messages, e-mails, phone calls, and video games? Good thing the Map2 paper map is gaining popularity.

Map2 is basically a paper map — the same kind you used back when cellphones were only good for calls, text messaging, and the occasional game of Snake. What’s cool about Map2 is that it has its built-in “zoom” function. The map is divided into four quadrants, and if you want to “zoom” into one of the quadrants, just unfold that portion of the map to reveal a more detailed illustration of the quadrant.

I know, it’s not really technology. But it’s instant 2x zoom — how many maps can do that? Map2 is currently gaining popularity in London, where it’s now being offered. It’s a simple, ingenious way to keep from getting lost when you’re on vacation, and for only $13 a piece, it’s likely going to catch on all over the world one day.

Via: TFTS