3 ms·

"Mental Maps" Of Cities Help Your Brain Regain What It Has Lost To GPS

19 points by sdoering 11y ago

ard123 11y ago
I was actually thinking about the same thing whem I forgot my phone today whilst driving. I feel as if it's become a lot harder navigating without it.
RazzyP 11y ago
The map of Providence looks very off to someone who knows the city blindfolded. I'm curious as to who he talked to.
chippy 11y ago
There's no science here about brains if you were looking for some, as I was. The relevant part of the article (and aren't they always?) is in the last paragraph: "We so often follow the lefts and rights that the GPS lady tells us without thinking about where we’re going," he says. "There’s something so alienating about this, like we’re not actually in the space. And it turns out this is a very powerful and absolutely essential part of brains that we’re losing. We need to do something to exercise it, and my maps can be a good place to start." I actually agree with this but it appears to me as if the man is saying, "stop buying maps on your phone and start buying my maps instead". He should be saying "make your own maps of your place and here's how".
- mbostleman 11y ago
  The "...without thinking about where we’re going," part does not apply to everyone. I for one am very uncomfortable not knowing where I am oriented map-wise in an unfamiliar place. Sure to get from the airport to the hotel I'll follow turn by turn directions because it's the only practical thing to do when you're also driving a car on the interstate. But prior to the drive and many times after, I familiarize myself with the map and my place on it because for me it's simply unnerving not to.
kqr2 11y ago
London Taxicab drivers who passed The Knowledge were forced to develop very detailed mental maps of London. According to wikipedia, it is the world's most demanding training course for taxicab drivers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom#The_Knowledge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom... http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/t-magazine/london-taxi-test-knowledge.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/t-magazine/london-taxi-tes...
brudgers 11y ago
The seminal work in this area is Kevin Lynch's The Image of the City. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/image-city https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/image-city
lifeformed 11y ago
I don't have a GPS. Before I go somewhere, I look up the directions on Google Maps, and draw out a simple diagram on a sticky note. I stick that to my dashboard and navigate using that. I find I rarely need to look at the note - the act of drawing a map solidifies the directions in my mind. Over time, I've gotten a really solid sense of direction of my area; I don't really need a map. I don't really recommend doing this if you live a precisely scheduled life or one requiring lots of travel. Sometimes you get lost, or you miss out on more efficient routes. But I enjoy it... getting lost puts me in interesting places I've never been, and puts my navigation skills to the test. GPS is great, but I love looking at and drawing maps.

19 points by sdoering 11y ago

I was actually thinking about the same thing whem I forgot my phone today whilst driving. I feel as if it's become a lot harder navigating without it.

RazzyP 11y ago

The map of Providence looks very off to someone who knows the city blindfolded. I'm curious as to who he talked to.

chippy 11y ago

There's no science here about brains if you were looking for some, as I was. The relevant part of the article (and aren't they always?) is in the last paragraph: "We so often follow the lefts and rights that the GPS lady tells us without thinking about where we’re going," he says. "There’s something so alienating about this, like we’re not actually in the space. And it turns out this is a very powerful and absolutely essential part of brains that we’re losing. We need to do something to exercise it, and my maps can be a good place to start." I actually agree with this but it appears to me as if the man is saying, "stop buying maps on your phone and start buying my maps instead". He should be saying "make your own maps of your place and here's how".

mbostleman 11y ago
The "...without thinking about where we’re going," part does not apply to everyone. I for one am very uncomfortable not knowing where I am oriented map-wise in an unfamiliar place. Sure to get from the airport to the hotel I'll follow turn by turn directions because it's the only practical thing to do when you're also driving a car on the interstate. But prior to the drive and many times after, I familiarize myself with the map and my place on it because for me it's simply unnerving not to.

kqr2 11y ago

London Taxicab drivers who passed The Knowledge were forced to develop very detailed mental maps of London. According to wikipedia, it is the world's most demanding training course for taxicab drivers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom#The_Knowledge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom... http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/t-magazine/london-taxi-test-knowledge.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/t-magazine/london-taxi-tes...

brudgers 11y ago

The seminal work in this area is Kevin Lynch's The Image of the City. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/image-city https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/image-city

lifeformed 11y ago

I don't have a GPS. Before I go somewhere, I look up the directions on Google Maps, and draw out a simple diagram on a sticky note. I stick that to my dashboard and navigate using that. I find I rarely need to look at the note - the act of drawing a map solidifies the directions in my mind. Over time, I've gotten a really solid sense of direction of my area; I don't really need a map. I don't really recommend doing this if you live a precisely scheduled life or one requiring lots of travel. Sometimes you get lost, or you miss out on more efficient routes. But I enjoy it... getting lost puts me in interesting places I've never been, and puts my navigation skills to the test. GPS is great, but I love looking at and drawing maps.