maps etc

[gfish]

I've been thinking how it's likely that the skill of map reading will die with our generation. (Except for weirdo hobbyists, of course, like people who teach themselves celestial navigation today. [Yes, I'm included in that group.]) It follows that physical maps will eventually die out as well, which suddenly strikes me as a much odder thought. Phone books are even more obviously doomed. None of the entire combined index of our reality will be tangible. Now that I'm watching the new Survivors remake, it makes me wonder what post-apocalyptic fiction will look like in a couple of decades. Imagine being surrounded by resources but not being able to find out where they are, or how to get there. How bizarre.

Also, why didn't anyone tell me about the Survivors remake? It's already into its second season!

Also also, sorry I haven't been updating much. It's been a weird couple of weeks. I have some non-news to share which I thought I'd have the final clearance to post about some time ago. Waiting for the go ahead (which will almost certainly take the form of official word I wasn't selected) has given me a weird mental block on updating LJ. I should at least have a cool project update or two to make asap.

Comments

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

But doesn't the use of Google Maps mean that people know at least a little of how to read a map? (if fairly straightforward ones, with directions)

I tend to carry google map printouts with me whenever I go anywhere new. Partly because I don't own a handheld device that would be suitable for displaying such a thing, but also Big and Able To Take Notes On helps.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

It's something, but I'm not sure it's enough. Particularly given how very, very ubiquitous smart devices will obviously become. When everything you own can give you directions, how many people are really going to bother with maps? And even if you do show a map, it will be the automatically updating kind that always puts your location in the center and (ugh) shows forward as up, instead of north. I really don't think you can learn how to read a map if that is all you are exposed to, any more than you can learn a language by just listening to it being spoken.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I was too busy watching videos of the volcano in Iceland to finish my reply: sorry to just imitate what you said.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Google Maps may be a transitional technology. I can imagine that in ten years most people will be using tomtom-like guides, and twenty years after that (and after the passing of liability limit legislation) people will get in their cars and tell the cars where they want to go, and rarely consider actually having to figure out where something is.

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

I live in England and get around on foot. What is this 'car' thing?

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

... now, I admit, I *have* phoned information and gone "I'M LOST! I'm at X, how do I get to Y???" on foot but only once. :)

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Because you didn't grow up with ubiquitous location-aware technology. Hell, I still think GPS is pretty nifty. It's the NEXT generation we're talking about.

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

I'm just suggesting that people still have to walk, until we have personal hoverbubbles at least, so the second level of "Just tell the car where you want to go and don't think about it" can't be ubiquitous that fast.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Devices can give you directions while walking (almost) as easily as while driving. Though you're less likely to need one, just because the distances are more human scaled, of course.