As a tourist exploring a new city (or even your own city), nothing beats local knowledge. It’s the context and sense of history that an "insider" can offer that often sets the experience apart.A good storyteller can also be an eye-opener, giving life to static elements and creating linkages that transform an area of streets and landmarks into a narrative to be experienced.This use of narrative is the cornerstone of VoiceMap, a locally developed app that offers location-aware audio tours in more than 30 countries so far.The tours are designed for walkers. There are maps and location points to refer to if you want, but — better yet — put the app in "pocket mode" (so it stays on but locks the screen), put in your earphones and let the narrator guide you.Directions are "human friendly" (my words, not VoiceMap’s), with instructions such as "Face downhill, towards the city. There’s an alleyway just past the museum, to your right. Follow that." This simple, descriptive format means you can...

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