In 1784, Roy was commissioned by the Royal Society to geodetically connect the Royal Observatories of Greenwich and Paris to solve a dispute over their relative positions. The day the Board of Ordnance set his suggested plan into action, Ordnance Survey was born. William Roy’s lifelong mission was to build a superior map of Britain, unparalleled in its accuracy. At the time of his death in 1790 his vision of a national survey for Britain was almost within reach. His work paved the way for modern surveying and he understood the strategic importance of accurate maps. The fact that Roy was just 21 years old with no military commission when he started the survey makes his achievements even more extraordinary. Nevertheless, the map was a powerful tool as part of a broader strategy to open up access to the Highlands. Roy’s surveying parties of about eight relied on simple surveying compasses to measure the angles, and chains up to 50 feet long to measure distance between important features. William Roy described it as rather a ‘magnificent military sketch than a very accurate map of the country’. Roads, hills, rivers, types of land cover and settlements were recorded. Starting in 1747, it took eight years to complete what was known as the Great Map at a scale of 1:36 000 (1.75 inches to a mile). It was an innovative young engineer called William Roy who was tasked with the initial small-scale military survey of Scotland. So the government ordered its defence ministry of the time – the Board of Ordnance – to begin a survey of England’s vulnerable southern coasts. Until then, maps had lacked the detail required for moving troops and planning campaigns. Later, as the French Revolution rumbled on the other side of the English Channel, there were real fears the bloodshed might sweep across to our shores. Still, I would love to have the full-size 8.5-inch MOVA globe of Earth sitting on the corner of my desk just perpetually spinning by magic.The name Ordnance Survey hints at how it all began.īritain’s mapping agency has its roots in military strategy: mapping the Scottish Highlands following rebellion in 1745. The 6-inch globes are more in the $250-plus range, and the full-size 8.5-inch globes cost $500. The small 4.5-inch models like the one that was sent to me start around $125. You can buy them directly from the MOVA website, but they’re not cheap. If you are a globe geek like me, or you know someone who is, I highly recommend the MOVA globes. My only wish is that I would prefer to have one of the larger models-the unit that was sent to me is one of the small, 4.5-inch globes. I have found that the light in my office is not enough by itself, but it doesn’t take much sunlight for the globe to spin. I haven’t completely determined what the minimal or optimal amount of ambient light is to generate the perpetual motion. You can flip, twist, and rotate the outer sphere, but the globe will always remain properly oriented. If you really, really want to understand the science behind the perpetual motion, you can fill out a form on the website and MOVA will send you a PDF explaining the advanced physics and new technological developments that make the MOVA globes possible. Consisting of solar cells, magnetic elements and other proprietary components, the mechanism drives the continuous rotation without any batteries or power cords. It describes the technology behind the rotation like this:Ī sophisticated motion mechanism, powered by ambient light, rests discreetly inside each globe. The MOVA website explains that the perpetual motion is powered by ambient light and the magnetic field of Earth. You don’t need to charge or recharge the globe in any way. The MOVA globes are encased in a plastic sphere and rotate automatically within that sphere, powered by some sort of arcane magic. MOVA also offers a range bases for each of the globes so you can add some unique flair to match the style or décor of your home or office. There are also MOVA globes of artwork, and globes of sports like a baseball or basketball. There is a diverse array of Earth globes available, beige, blue, antique, silver, silver and black, etc. MOVA also has celestial globes-Earth’s moon, and the planets of our solar system along with some of the more notable moons that orbit them. The MOVA globes come in three different sizes-4.5-inch, 6-inch, and 8.5-inch spheres. It’s a globe, so the form should be more or less self-explanatory. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these MOVA globes unique. There’s just something about globes that captures my attention and interest. I have a beautiful mother of pearl Earth globe on a table in the corner of my office, and a globe of the Moon sitting on the corner of my desk. This definitely falls on the geek side of the fence more than the tech side, but I’m OK with that.
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