a user can access a common database from a remote communications port , at any qualified location , to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest , e . g ., businesses , stores , architectural sites , and the like . the database contains information representing the items of interest , including , for each of the items of interest , positional coordinates , a geographic vicinity , and a selected category . the positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity , while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category . for example , a user in new york can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding chicago o &# 39 ; hara international airport selectively . a user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user &# 39 ; s position . the database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change , or add to , the information therein . an advertisement can be tagged to the display or print out as an association with the selected items of interest .