my beloved copy of point it by graf editions
planning a trip to a far away locale? worried about not speaking the language? there are tons of apps out there for languages (perhaps the next tech tuesday post?), but what happens if you’re going to say, sochi, where you can’t even begin to decipher the alphabet (ok, and let’s also assume it’s not during the olympics where english runs rampant)? enter: symbolic app (for techies) and point it book (for technophobes). let’s be honest, i’m the latter. exhibit a: i only started using gps this year after spending five years in los angeles with a…fold-out map. still trust me to write a post every few tuesdays regarding technology?
handy that their table setting includes some asian-specific items. soy sauce? yes, please.
well, if you’re still reading, glad you’re here. i’ll start with the point it: traveller’s language kit book by graf editions. still one of my favorite travel purchases, i bought this at the san francisco museum of modern art store, and pack it in every foreign getaway carry-on. it’s thin, it’s graphically pleasing, and it allows me to point my way to a shocking number of sentences.
the point it anatomy guide
having a severe stomach ache after eating steak at dinner and need to find a doctor stat? flip to page 55 for your photo of a doctor (54 for the ambulance in case things go really wrong, really fast), then to page 56 once you’re at the doctor’s office to point to your stomach, and then to page 10 for the diagram of the cow with different cuts. bug spray? page 27 (same page as the mosquito netting). brandy? page 21. goat, page 8; snorkeling, page 50; helicopter, page 30. life goal: to have a reason to point to all of these in one trip. the book also has world maps, modes of transportation, car parts, etc.
point it thinks of, well,everything. imagine trying to describe q-tip in a foreign language…
sounds pretty cool, right? no need for an app with the point it book! except that the symbolic app is actually pretty cool, and pretty much a steal at $0.99 (point it cost me $6.95 in 2006). first, rather than photos, the app consists of a series of symbols that are widely recognized throughout the word. second, there is a search bar at the top, so you don’t have to flip through photos as you are dying of food poisoning. after typing in “doctor,” a symbol of a family practice doctor came up with translation in several languages. not sure i was intending to go to a family practice doctor, but guess that will do. perhaps i should have typed in hospital instead. i could have also gone to the “health” category and sorted through a myriad of health-related symbols. the one that i can only assume means stomach troubles made me giggle.
the symbolic app’s interpretation of doctor, health-related items, and what i can only assume means internal stomach turmoil
ok, let’s try the same words from point it. bug spray: nothing came up when i searched for that term, but i was able to find something that got the point across under the camping section. brandy: no, though i did find a symbol for other alcoholic beverages, as well as a chili pepper with different levels of spice (very helpful!) under the food section. goat: no, but under “nature” i found a unicorn, rabbit in a hat (maybe should be under “leisure?”), and a dragon. snorkeling? yes! and while looking under “leisure” i found an entire section with the olympic event symbols – very timely! helicopter? check! another personal fave: the michelin man! perfect for hunting down the nearest michelon star restaurant, and included in the “brand” section with pages of helpful brands that the point it book doesn’t have.
symbolic app shots: travel symbols, bug spray (?), and some brands to help you on your vacay (can’t leave home without some monopoly!)
while i’ll still probably trust my point it book during vacations, the symbolic app may be more convenient in situations where i least expect it (say, when i try to make a go of dim sum by myself). also, after i finished writing this post, i googled graf editions to link to the book’s website, only to find that point it has an app now! at $2.99, i think i will stick with my symbolic app. take your pick, but report back on any hilarity that ensues as a result.