This exercise was to encourage us to to take an alternative walk around the city- in order to explore in a way we wouldn't normally as people tend to stick to their normal routines. My class mate and I started off in the market, in the city center and each time we came to a junction we alternately took a left or right turn. We were asked to think of something to look for as we walked so we decided to look for graffiti which we took pictures of whenever we found it. I also took pictures of the street name so we would be able to accurately up date our photos to the google map.
I have never made a google map before but I always use google maps. It is an amazing invention, the fact that we can virtually walk down streets on street view, looking at our own houses- or more worryingly other peoples. It is hard to think that google maps are only used for good, e.g. burglars can suss out where the large houses are form the comfort of their computers.
In a better light however, it is an excellent way to research your surroundings, learn about your country- or in fact any country in the world for that matter. You could think that the use of google maps is sad- why not actually go traveling for yourself than sit at home looking at maps. However, as we all know this is easier said than done and google maps have multiple uses.
This psyography project has been really interesting, and it is a great way to share a place that you love- like a walk around the city- and to share it with others. such maps have proved useful too in all sorts of areas, when terrorists have attacked or natural disasters, people have made google maps in order to show where the worst affected areas are. my map certainly does not have anyway near as much importance, but this was a really nice exercise, and was certainly thought provoking about other uses for google maps that would help me.
