Human
kind has, throughout its own history, attempted in many ways to challenge both
time and space through various medium for the purpose of ‘species introspection’;
knowing more about the ourselves by leaving our own environment. Perhaps one of
the most telling examples of this abstraction is the map - a tool used over the
past 3000 years by humans to gain a new understanding of the world, fueled by a
universal desire to see a place in its entirety. Maps have been created and
used in every corner of the world and have changed form and shape over time.
Our modern maps are dramatically different to the scrawling cuneiform once
produced by early geographers and cartographers.
On its own virtual surface, a mapping
system like Google Maps seems one-dimensional and unchanging. Insert your
desired coordinates, point and click and you’re given direction. But a more
intense critique of this online interface uncovers its many layers as a
landmark tool of human interaction. Select street view for an interactive 360
degree display of your neighbour’s front lawn or the Burj Khalifa or even the
Great Coral Reef and Grand Canyon (both new locations to explore on Google
Maps). Google earth transforms the map into a topographic representation of the
world, including towering mountain ranges and deep canals.
 |
| An image that perpetually fascinates me - Earth at Night. |
I fell in love with Google Maps after I
began to travel Canada and would use it to plot itineraries and en route
destinations. Identifying an approximation of the duration of your trip,
including traffic, weather and road conditions while also learning about local
attractions all in one website was (and still is) incredibly helpful. Fueled by
an amateur geographer like myself, Google Maps is the perfect place to better understand
a place like Canada.
Recently, Google maps has opened its
program to anyone interested in an effort to openly share knowledge on places
and things in every corner of the earth. Users can now upload photos, write
reviews and create videos of their own travels, building a network of media-savvy
explorers who can connect with each other’s experiences. This trend, known as ‘Post-modern
Cartography’ by academics, is rearranging our traditional ideas on what a map is and what it can do.
The effect of seeing the earth
holistically gave human kind an appreciation that could not have been
experienced before the creation of maps; the planet we experience from above is
not marked by borders, but geographical diversities, light pollution and vast
deposits of land and water. From this vantage point a place like Canada is vast
wilderness blotched with cities and towns. This phenomenon – known as ‘The
Overview Effect’ – is the exact sensation teased out after spending some time
in a place like Google Maps. Philosopher David Loy describes this rush: ‘To
have that experience of awe is, at least for the moment, to let go of yourself;
to transcend the sense of separation.’
In the case of Google Maps, we find
plenty of examples of how nature and humans are interpreted and re-interpreted
by users and creators, forming a map that transcends mere topological
information. At this juncture the opportunity for a platform that becomes
subject to its users has the potential to change shape throughout time. I do
not wish to frame Google Maps as intrinsically good or bad, but a technology
that absorbs the values we project unto it. Interactivity in map making broadens
its use as a reciprocal tool, having impact on both the user and the used. The
future of Google Maps depends on this new form of engagement, and just how it
will continue to change is increasingly subject to who is behind the screen.
No comments:
Post a Comment