A background map remains stationary relative to a portable unit while the portable unit moves within a plane parallel to the screen of the portable unit allowing the user to assess the relative distance between a source location and a destination. In addition, the orientation or movement at an angle that provides further information about the content of the image. A stationary three dimensional (3-D) background image can be viewed by moving the handheld unit within the 3-D space. The map would be three dimensional and would correspond in scale to the two axes displayed on the screen of the portable unit while the third dimensional or axis can be viewed by moving the device perpendicular to the plane of the screen of the portable device forming a rectangular cuboid.