Lab #3 Photosynth

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With the growing availability of the Internet, volunteered geographic information is on the rise. Photosynth is an example of how technology and images come together to create a new kind of mapping. No longer are official agencies the only ones creating maps because now so many people, professionals and amateurs alike, have the ability to create and share maps. This synth is a personal map of a corner of my kitchen that I can share with the public. With a few shots from my digital camera and Internet access, I was able to make this map relatively quickly and easily.

Access for everyone however can have some pitfalls as well. Since maps are readily available on the Internet, official agencies have cut back in making professional and accurate maps. The US Geological Survey for example does not regularly update its maps as much and world mapping has been on a decline. The problem with volunteered geographic information is that those who volunteer affect the quality of the maps. Often times it is hard to get proper documentation or citation for the maps created and this can cause errors because sharing distorted maps just adds to the mess. Being able to discern accurate and trustworthy maps now becomes even more important because there is no regulations on biases transferred in VGI.

Even with these problems, there is a lot of potential for this new field of mapping. There is an increase in the availability of shared information. There are so many free map data online to use that sometimes it seems as if there's a map for everything and anything. Everyone who has Internet access can become involved with creating maps on Google Earth or Photosynth and what used to take a lot of time and attention to details is now only a few clicks away with a mouse.

Moreover, the role of official mapping agencies is being redefined and non professionals are able to share maps of their lives with others around the world. Maps of personal space that used to be hidden to the public can now be shared. Especially with Photosynth, people can get a glimpse of what it is like to be somewhere that they have never been. It can change the way news or information is presented because parts of the world that we never hear about can be displayed. In the near future, the quality of these maps will increase and the division between two dimensional maps and three dimensional reality will blend together.