The strength of the presentation is the integration of a wide variety of software and hardward for cartographic applications. The book was published in 1995 and already there are elements of Peterson's vision that can be found on the Internet and in available software. The book is well written and easy to read. As a textbook, its strength is that the book has a distinct objective and goal, explaining interactive and animated cartography. It offers the student a vision of the future.
Many texts have an encyclopedic feel, presenting information on what is and what was.
Electronic atlases and multimedia encyclopedias, some of which containing map animations depicting the changing fortunes of an historic battle or the spread of an epidemic, are beginning to compete with the traditional printed versions. GIS applications that allow users to interactively explore spatial data and create their own customized maps are springing up in public libraries and city halls. In this book, Michael Peterson reviews the concepts and tools that go into the development of dynamic maps and offers an enthusiastic glimpse of the potential opportunities of this New Cartography. The author explains terminology and technical concepts clearly and with pertinent examples. Each chapter, except the last, contains an introduction, summary, and exercises.