The multiple interpretations of the “S” in GIS capture the various uses, methodological challenges, opportunities and implications of Geographic Information. Research about and with GIS – GIS the science and GIS the tool – have gained significant momentum and importance since Goodchild’s keynote address at the Fourth International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling in the early 1990s. An important aspect of the evolution of GIS is the increased public access to GIS. While only alluded to in the article, the increased availability and accessibility of these technologies to ‘plugged-in’ individuals will drive continued innovation in the field and will have unclear ethical, social, political and economic ramifications. What are the privacy and security implications of widespread and readily available geographic information? How will open source data and technologies affect the competitiveness and relevance of closed data and technologies? These questions will need to be tackled by exploring all aspects of GIS – the System, the Science, the Studies, the Services – as they all contribute to a better identification and understanding of the technologies of GIS and the objectives and methodological underpinnings of the field. More research and attention needs to be focused on such issues to ensure the integrity of GIS the tool and GIS the science.
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