Friday, April 27, 2012

(Lab 3) Livin' in the City: A Lesson on Neogeography


View Must-See Attractions in The City of Angeles in a larger map

Thoughts on Neogeography
       Neogeography has impacted the contemporary world tremendously. Since its beginning, neogeography has had several positive consequences on the way people interact and engage with the real world. In particular, the ability to create maps and share geographic data relatively easily has resulted in greater access to information. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can produce detailed information about different locations and geographic attributes. Therefore, there is a higher volume of information available in the world. As a result, people do not have the same difficulties getting hold of the information that they need, precisely because there are millions of sources to draw from.
       Despite the positive effects that neogeography has on society, it also has its pitfalls. For example, it can lead to the spread of misinformation. Because anyone can create a map, there is a high possibility that people fabricate or provide completely incorrect information. This means that neogeography can be unreliable and untrustworthy. Nevertheless, neogeography does have great potential, because it has the power to create networks and connect people and social groups across the globe. For instance, governments can use maps to relay political and economic data to one another, in order to establish trade partnerships. Advocates of anti-abuse campaigns can share information about safe zones and escape routes for victims to follow. Thus, neogeography has the potential to solidify social networks and, in some cases, save lives. Altogether, the concept of neogeography has profound implications for present and future societies.

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