#7

Almost everybody I know has a cell phone. Even some fourth graders. It's unbelievable the influence of technology today, on people of all ages. The cell phone has now started to take over even the map industry. Richard Saul Wurman says "The map underlies a man's ability to perceive". But instead of on paper, maps have now appeared on Google, where you can type in a street address and see a picture of the house from its street view. Directions are available via cell phone, as well as MapQuest or GPS systems for your car. Another recently launched program from Google is a system called Latitude, which helps you find restaurants, malls, parks, and even exactly where your friends are, using the signals from their cell phones. Parents could use Latitude to know where their kids are, but it could also be a dangerous way for scary people to track you down. With new technology and change comes new precaution, but ultimately change can be a good thing, improving the way we live and our efficiency.

Markoff, John. "The Cellphone, Navigating Our Lives." New York Times. 16 February 2009.