GIS, Wayfinding, and the Device Paradigm

Aporta and Higgs (2003) present a case study of Inuit hunters of the Igloolik region, examining the effects of the introduction of GPS technology to their traditional understanding and navigation of the landscape, referred to as wayfinding. They introduce Albert Borgmann’s “Device Paradigm” in consideration of the effects new technology has on old practices. The paper’s purpose is to bring more attention to considering the implications technology has on cultural perceptions of geographic space. Since it’s undeniable that this is an issue relevant to GIScience, I would like to talk more about my own thoughts regarding the philosophy of technology, specifically the device paradigm.

The device paradigm refers to how technology is perceived and consumed. It suggests that as technology becomes more advanced, commodities and services become more available and the processes and meanings behind the technology become less understood. In the case of GPS, as examined by the authors, the Inuit people’s tradition of wayfinding has become less necessary to learn and pass down because GPS simplifies and increases the accuracy of navigation across the arctic landscape. Many anthropologists take this to be a bad thing, because replacing traditional methods with new technology makes it harder to find meaning in what it is that someone is actually doing, because they are interacting with the technology instead of the environment that they are using it in.

This is obviously true, but I feel like for the sake of technological advancement and the progress of the human race, we have to be willing to forego the meaning behind certain aspects of life. This is because learning takes time, and it is only possible to learn so much within one’s own lifespan. Technology offers shortcuts that allow us to reach our destination faster than if we had to learn and memorize every single step along the way. These sorts of shortcuts are everywhere in GIS, from data management and spatial analysis tools to the computers we use to run the software that includes them. But then again, we need people around who know what to do when these devices fail us.

-yee

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