Ever since Google Maps launched its app in 2008, I’ve been using GPS to get around town, and across the country. For a decade, a digital voice from my phone has led me, turn-by-turn, in cities I’m not familiar with and even cities I’ve lived in for years.
But during the past year or so, I’ve become uncomfortable with my reliance on GPS for a variety of reasons.
So I bought a paper map of my fair city of Tulsa, as well as a road atlas of the United States. (Apparently, I’m not alone in this; sales of the classic Rand McNally Road Atlas have, counterintuitively, been rising in the last several years). And I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it’s been to use old-fashioned maps to get around town, and country. In fact, I’ve gone to using “analog” maps as my primary method of navigation, only relying on Google Maps as a back-up.
Here’s why I’ve made this navigational switch, and 7 reasons — from the practical to the philosophical — why you might consider putting a paper map back in your glovebox too:
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The young generation wouldn't know what to do with it
ReplyDeleteMost don't know how to find north without the compass app on their phones.
ReplyDeleteI still use a Sussex and Wicomico County ADC map for my job from about 15 years ago. The newer ADC maps are too small to give a large perspective of your location. My maps are all tattered and torn along with many road name changes and new roads not shown on the maps, but I always find where I am going and depend on these maps 100%. I have never used, nor know how to use, GPS. Especially after all the stories over the years of people ending up in lakes or in the wilderness or dead at the bottom of a cliff somewhere. To be honest, I have never even looked at a GPS on a phone. I also don't know how to even get it on my Samsung 4 Note phone (a sucker sales job that I fell for). I am still trying to retrieve my first voice mail from when I bought this phone about 4 years ago. I did learn how to answer the phone and now with all the robocalls, I wish I didn't. At 65 years old, I have learned much, and still not enough to be cool. Oh Well. I'm happy.
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