Assignment 3

View JJ's Grand Canyon Trip in a larger map

about the pitfalls, potential and consequences of neogeography.

          Neogeography allows everyone to be considered geographers to some degree. It allows people with a limited understanding of geographic principles the ability to map out their vacations, share location information of their experiences, or convey understanding of any random information they might want to share. For the more technologically saavy, several neogeographic programs have the capability to allow the user to program mash-ups that map out geographically based data.  This leads to the new statistics, metrics, frequencies and trends that no-one might've discovered before.  This also eliminates the need for the average layperson to purchase and invest time learning expensive and complex GIS programs.  Neogeography also supplements GIS and the field of geography as a whole, getting a bigger mass interested in the study and investing in it's development. 


          However, nothing is perfect, just like neogeography is not short of pitfalls.  The notion that it is accessible by everyone is both a boon and a hindrance.  This leads to a lack on consistency, accuracy and reliability on a good number of maps.  A map-maker's vision might not be able to be fully transposed into a map using neogeography, because he pretty much working with a template from a certain program. GIS, on the other hand allows the user to create coordinates, terrain and other dynamic features using his perception.  However, given the recent exponential development of neogeography, I am certain that programs will soon emerge with in-depth programming capabilities that your that average Joe could use.