The GPS and You

Found this article about GPS service.... While there's a subtle truth that technology does make us a little bit too dependent, it also helps us achieve a bit more of efficiency - of doing the right things faster. In this world where everything seems to be at a rush, this kind of technology will definitely make us survive.
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ABC News

Will GPS Make Us Dumb?
Experts Say Direction-Giving Phones Could Make Us Lose Our Way
By CLOE SHASHA
June 17, 2008

For most people -- the cab driver, the tourist, the business traveler -- the ubiquitous
GPS has become a lifeline, giving directions to the nearest bathroom, a pizza joint or
the shortest route to the office.

But, just like with spell-checker before it, some experts believe that the guiding device
gives less than what it takes away. The price we pay for the convenience, they say,
could be our sense of direction.

For years, the Web-surfing faithful have used Internet-based maps and route finders,
like MapQuest and Google Maps, to guide them to their destinations. These online
options bring travelers instantly calculated directions, without having to scrutinize
colorful representations of roads. But now, as BlackBerrys and the new iPhone that hits
stores on July 11 become GPS-enabled, the world will see a drastic leap in hand-held
technology, as well.

As the prices on these devices drop -- the new iPhone will cost only about $200 -- more
people will be able to possess these GPS phones. This new affordability may increase our
addiction to GPS, according to Ian White, founder of Urban Mapping, a company that
licenses geographic data for use in online maps, like Google Maps.

"When we develop a crutch for technology, we lose the ability to do that which we did
previously," White said. "It couldn't be more true. People become more and more reliant,
and their expectations get bigger and bigger, and if technology doesn't deliver, they get
frustrated."

This dependence can already be seen in the use of GPS in cars, which has become more
prevalent. If other phone makers follow Apple's footsteps, look for GPS to become even
more commonplace.

"I think GPS is going to continue to be embedded in more and more digital devices,
including kinds that we haven't even imagined yet," Middlebury College geography
professor Anne Knowles said. "Any human activity takes place somewhere. I think we
could see GPS units in our watches, in credit cards, or for any human activity that relies
on knowing where you are or planning where you're going to go."