Lab 3 Neogeography

View My visits to Indonesia in a larger map
I decided to create a neogeographic map of the various places that my family and I visit when we take our trips back to my parents' home country of Indonesia. We try to take trips every couple of years or so. I included things like details of the really long flight, places that we like to eat, typical tourist sites that we have visited, and more.

        Neogeography, or "new geography," has taken the world by storm and is integrated in almost everything anyone does. Neogeography is the concept of people creating and using their own personal maps, combining elements of existing mapping tools. With neogeography, people can share their location information with their friends and families. Examples would include Google Maps, "checking in" on Facebook, geotagging photos on Instagram and Twitter, and more. Mashups, which combine information from multiple sources/websites (like the one I created above), are also another example of neogeography Neogeography, however, does have its various pitfalls, potentials, and consequences.

        The benefits and potentials of neogeography are multiple. The concept of neogeography has opened up a new interest in mapping and location information in today's modern society. It has reiterated the importance and relevance of maps in everyday life. Individuals are now able to easily illustrate and share their own reality and what is important to their personal lives, giving them some more freedom and power. For example, geotagging in Palestine can be taken as a measure of Palestinians finding some way to express their identity and a way of pushing back against the forces that oppress them. Neogeography has also been quite helpful in emergency situations, such as geotagging that occurs during major hurricanes, etc. which can give the government forces information on which areas are in need of the most help.

        However, neogeography does have various pitfalls and consequences that might be of important consideration. Some pitfalls of neogeography include the fact that one must have some technological competence and skill to create and/or use neogeographic maps and tools. It would be difficult for older people, who weren't as familiar with modern technology, to take part in neogeography. Thus, some might say that the concept of neogeography is democratized for certain individuals. Another pitfall is the decrease in validity of certain maps, as neogeeographic maps made by amateurs might be taken as a true reference rather than those created by map professionals and cartographers. Lastly, the concept of "invasion of privacy" could certainly be a consequence of neogeography. For example, detailed information on different locations on Google Earth can be easily accessed by anybody. That could increase terrorist threats as some "secret" government locations aren't so "secret" anymore.

        In conclusion, I do personally think that the benefits and the potential that comes with neogeography outweigh its dangers. I feel that in the future, with the way technology is quickly advancing, that society can find some way to lessen the pitfalls and consequences of neogeography and it can be more of an aid to everybody. Plus, I really did enjoy making my own personal mashup on Google Earth, telling my personal story about my own visits to Indonesia, and having the ability to interactively share it with others.