Traffic Flow combines Curious Traffic Producer and Curious Map Presenter to offer broadcasters a complete solution for the design, production and on-air presentation of their traffic maps.

Traffic Producer targets the acclaimed mapmaking power of Curious World Maps specifically at illustrating traffic reports. The simple template-driven user interface allows both graphics and non-graphics professionals to quickly focus on the area of interest, add storytelling details and create still or animated maps that are ready for air in a single click.

With Traffic Producer it's easy to create a full run down of maps illustrating different traffic incidents in a city or area. Features include drag and drop symbols that can be added to the map to illustrate accidents or road blocks, plus the ability to highlight roads to show traffic state. The comprehensive street database can be searched extremely quickly using street names and house numbers, street intersections or GPS co-ordinates. Animation is entirely automatic, created with simple wizards, and the final still or animated maps can be ready for air in seconds.

Completing the Curious Traffic Flow is Map Presenter, an interactive playback system for the control room or studio. A full rundown of stills or animations can be imported from Traffic Producer, or built within the Map Presenter. Video clips can also be incorporated from elsewhere. The order of the rundown can be changed with simple drag and drop operations right up to the moment of broadcast. Play through the rundown can be automatic, or can be programmed to wait for a cue from the presenter before continuing. The presenter can also add live or recorded telestration over the map to illustrate further particular items of interest.

US broadcasters are enthusiastic in their praise for the new Curious Traffic Flow.

Among them is KWWL, part of Raycom Media Inc, which broadcasts to audiences in a hyphenated market that includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City and Dubuque. As well as illustrating news stories with Curious World Maps, KWWL also uses Curious Traffic Flow to create maps for traffic reporting.

Dale R Woods, KWWL's VP/General Manager, says: "Traffic Producer allows KWWL to immediately be on the air with the changes in traffic. Our traffic is more about convenience than time savings and the weather, construction and accidents all play a role in daily changes to the traffic flow. Now, with the latest Traffic Producer, KWWL can illustrate these changes live on air to help the viewer understand better how the new situation will impact on their life. Traffic has been such a successful element to our morning news that we are now doing daily updates for local radio stations. Alongside this, Curious maps in general are such a powerful visual element that KWWL integrates Curious mapping into each newscast."

To see how you too could benefit from Curious Traffic Flow, please visit us at booth SL1323 at NAB 2006.

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