How digital maps changed the way we see cities

How digital maps changed the way we see cities Virtually everyone now possesses a great device that provides instant access to the entire human knowledge. Smartphone. We no longer experience the fear or joy of unknown as in previous centuries.

And we do also have access to maps of the entire world. We as are now able to have the view once reserved to Gods and birds, we understand our living environment in a different way. I would like to illustrate this on cities, as it is the area where we observe these phenomena with most intensity.

The move in the city is in a constant rush. And thats when we need to find the most efficient way from A to B. So we reach a pocket for our digital friend, telling us where to go.

And thats when the digital influences the physical space. We follow the marked route in order to be faster than we would be on our own. Thus leaving aspects of physical space besides. As these maps do not generally differ the pedestrian areas from others, we might end up in an area, that is totally unsuitable for walking and prefers only cars or other means. And thats when we realize the difference of efficiency and pleasure. We occasionally completely let our thinking go and substitute it for the digital aids.

On the other hand, it may cause a change in our stereotype behaviour, as we discover new option of movement from many of those, that are offered by the app. Even if we are not in a hurry we are not lost in any place in the world, as long as the cell phone service is provided. No longer bound to our body, we experience the space in a much wider way.

Just being in the space and limiting our knowledge only to our body capabilities is a conscious process.

But thanks to the satellite view we grasp the complex ideas of city urbanism. We now experience the whole areas and city layout as we zoom out and in. The default blue dot depicting our positions makes us the centre of the universe. We easily relate this to the globe or a street and thus familiarize the whole.

We no longer refer to physical surroundings to navigate ourselves. Only thing we need is that blinking blue dot.