GPS Use: Losing our Ability to Read Maps?
A recent article in the Times Online posed the question; Are GPS units and Sat-Nav's ruining our ability to read maps? This will be interesting to see how it plays out. I mean as young kids grow up around personal navigation systems, will they never learn how to read a map? The Times has a good quote on potential skill loss:
Rita Gardner, president of the Royal Geographical Society, said: “I firmly believe that sat-navs are depriving us of our ability to read maps. This is a terrible thing because maps are more than pieces of paper that tell us how to get from A to B. They have so much extra that can benefit us.”
I wonder if people said that during the transition from the horse drawn wagon to the automobile, "People are losing their ability to take care of a horse and drive a wagon. The critical skills of cleaning a stall, harnessing a horse and properly using a whip are being lost in this horseless carriage era."
Personally, I don't think my map reading skills have fallen off in the few years I have been using a GPS, but my sense of direction and space has.
Sense of Direction
As I have blindly followed GPS systems to my destination and back, I cede almost all control of my navigation over to the unit. If the thing ever dies while I was at a destination, I might never be able to get back because I haven't noted how to get there; relying solely on the GPS to get me back. This mental holiday is fine most of the time, because it wouldn't be hard to find a known highway and get home.
Redundant Systems in the Woods
This is NOT the case when I am out navigating in the woods, on either a short day hike or longer treks. By using a GPS I am actually MORE aware of where I am going, where I have been and what the landmarks are around me because I am looking at a 2-D rendering of my trek at least every few minutes. When I am outdoors and navigating I am very aware of the consequences of a broken GPS or dead batteries, so I am pretty cautious in these cases and have redundant systems. I would recommend that you are too.
ReadMore at the Times Online
Read More in: GPS News
Share this Article with others:
Related Articles:
Came straight to this page? Visit GPS Lodge for all the latest news.
Posted by Scott Martin at January 17, 2007 8:54 AM
Mailing List
Subscribe - RSS
