Lab 3: Neogeography

View Basketball courts in the San Fernando Valley in a larger map

This dynamic map, made using Google Maps, provides information on the various public basketball courts in the San Fernando Valley. My buddies and I have always wished we had a tool like this to find alternative basketball facilities, because the courts that we frequent are always packed with too many people. I have divided the basketball courts into three categories: blue for indoor courts, green for outdoor courts, and red for both indoor and outdoor courts. It is interesting to note that in the approximately 260 square miles (670 square kilometers) of the San Fernando Valley, there are over 50 public basketball facilities that I know of. That's at least 1 public court for every 5 square miles. As expected about 50% of those are outdoor courts because they are the cheapest and easiest to build. Most of my friends prefer the springy hardwood indoor courts over the rough concrete outdoor courts, however it is very convenient to be knowledgeable of all our options.

Convenience is the biggest asset that neogeography brings to the table, because without a doubt it saves time and money for everyone. Consumers save time searching for places to conduct their business, and save money when details like price and quality are provided. Business owners cut down the time it would take to penetrate their local markets, and they save money on the marketing and advertising they would have needed to do so. This kind of convenience facilitates economic growth, while cutting down on the inefficiencies and delays that used to be common in the past.

However, this is not to say that neogeography is without its disadvantages. Perhaps it makes it too easy for individuals to find what they are searching for. Before the advent of online maps and portable GPS devices, learning how to read paper maps and understand verbal directions was a skill that every person absolutely had to learn. Nowadays, a person guided by such devices can drive vast distances without even the slightest idea of his or her position or direction on the road. I admit that I myself have become a fan of GPS applications on my phone, but I just cannot help but think that this kind of overdependence on them only furthers the sense of isolation and personal disconnect that technology has brought in the last few decades. What will happen when the internet and the GPS satellites fail?