THE "SILENT GUIDE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 199, 18 May 1920, Page 7

THE "SILENT GUIDE"

fr— Under the title of'the "silent guide" tile very latest development of mechanical aid to travellers .was put into operation fo." the first time during the second week in March in the booking hall at Leicester Square Underground Station in London It would he difficult (says the "Daily Telegraph").to overestimate the simplicity and ingenuity of the apparatus. 1 In the centre appeal's a large map iof thj-'Underground railway system, and ranged underneath and up each side are little push buttons, 2(i5 in all, ■ indicating the chief centres of the .Metropolis. All the theatres, stations, and tho principal restaurants and hotels lira included, together with leading business houses and shopping centres within ths area served by jtlie Underground and its allied lines. The instruction is ' briff and to the point. It tolls one to "press the button; tho guide does the rest," and so it does. Tho traveller seeking his way to a particular destination presses tho corresponding button. Little lights.shine out along the route on the map, and they remain visible as ' lon',' as the button is depressed. The colours employed are red, green and white. A large diamond-shaped red light indicates where tho person is situated—in this case' Leicester Square Station. A white light appears at tho place to which one wishes to go. A circular red light 'points out the underground station at which ono should alight, and should a change bo necessary, the junction where it has to bo inailo is indicated by"u creen light. Even as many as five lights-appear it a couple of changes are necessary, and to indicate the 205 different places which tho gnido undertakes to jioint out, considerably over three hundred distinct little bulbs are employed. If tho apparatus proves as successful as it promises and is generally adopted, it should be more difficult to lose one's way than to find 'it. The "Silent Guide" was invented by a Swiss sevoral years ago.