Me and my relation to Google maps (and being a local guide as well).
I’ve always had a fascination with maps. I don’t know why, but it always were there. The first time I saw a map it was in Poland after a relative escaped to Sweden. I was shown Sweden on a map and even though I couldn’t see the place my vivid imagination did. It continued like that. I liked maps of all kinds, historic maps, topographic maps, road atlases etc. In the 80’s I got my drivers permit and began working as a DJ. In these days there was no GPS and definately no digital maps (unless you were in the military). I had my road atlas and more or less had to memorise where I was to go and of course rely on the local people I asked for directions.
This all changed around 15 years ago when Google Maps was released. Not long after I purchased a little laptop with 3G connectivity that I began using as a road map. Aroun 10 years ago it got even better when the maps moved out to my mobile. Unfortunately, the GPS wasn’t as good and I remember once I was walking around for 2-3 hours in Stockholm more or less going in circles while using the maps and GPS for directions. The signals bounced between the buildings and somewhere it all got wrong.
Since then everything has gone so fast and when Google began with local guides I got hooked. Suddenly it was me being that local guide, the one that could help not one, two but maybe thousands with directions, not to mention be helped.
I don’t know how many restaurants I’ve chosen over others, much thanks to what people have written on Google Maps, or places I’ve visited, simply because someone put it there on the map, because they loved the spot. Sharing your places is like sharing a little bit of yourself, of your soul while at the same time helping others. It wasn’t possible with the old maps and atlases you had lying somewhere between the seats in your car. This is one of the greatest inventions, greater than many believe. Maybe even as great as the invention of the wheel. Maybe it’s not that a biggie for those who have lived with it all their life, but for us who remember “the stone age”? I can only say WOW!
At the same time I wonder how it will look in 10 years from now. Will we have goggles with AR maps? Actually I hope so and while at it, why not let the goggles map the surroundings, upload photos of the surroundings and improve the data all the time. And instead of me having to type what I think of the place maybe Google Home (or Assistant) will ask me “Marek, what do you think of this place” and I’ll tell it. Before I even think of it I’ll see it as one of my favourites on the map in my car, the phone or the goggles. The future will be as interactive as we allow it to be and it’s only us who limit how great this can become. Well, maybe I’m crazy, but let’s go wild, let’s go limitless and let’s go crazy. The only thing this can become without limits and with us all working together is even more fun and interesting.