Working with ArcMap was really intimidating the first time around because of all the options and steps the program had. Although it is a definitely useful tool for maps, the only way to become even remotely familiar with this software is through practice. When I performed a step and didn’t receive the predicted outcome, it was fairly frustrating trying to figure out where I went wrong or what I forgot to check (or uncheck). Without the introduction to ArchMap tutorial, there is no way I would know how to navigate through the software. However, there are obviously tons of advantages to this program, if it is used correctly.
I feel like one problem ArcMap may present is that in order to obtain the desired map projections, there is a long series of steps to take and if one tiny mistake is made then the user may end up with map errors or a map projection that contains unwanted data. There were times where I looked over the steps multiple times and still couldn’t figure out why I had reached a dead end where I couldn’t continue making my maps. With Mrs. Maas’ help, I found out all I had to do was check a specific box for a data set in the contents, although it wasn’t specified in the steps!
A definite potential of ArcMap is the endless possibilities of what you can create out of the data you obtain. With the correct data, the user is able to communicate their research and main points visually through maps, tables, etc. With the given data, many different map projections were made possible and compiled into easy to read figures. Once mapping the data was complete, organizing the data sets with titles, legends, and scales was fairly simple and easy to remember. It’s only when deciding what data goes where and what you’re trying to show that tons of practice is really needed.
GIS is an evolving technology that relies on the information obtained and input by others. This can be considered both a potential and pitfall. Its potential is that the world is made available to the masses through the hard work and research done by the people who dedicate their careers to expanding the abilities and information GIS offers. Through GIS a lot of the world is readily available at our finger tips, a mere click away from our homes, offices, and classrooms. This may also be seen as a slight pit fall, because although GIS has come a long way, knowledge is still being added every day, so we cannot simply rely on GIS alone to give 100% accurate data on places we may want to become more familiar with.
Neogeography has become a huge part of many people's lives, although they may be unaware of it. I didn't even know what it was until taking this course. Neogeography has made geography a common subject among Internet users by taking its tools and information and providing it for personal use for experts and non-experts alike. The advantages of neogeography is that it is easily accessible and mostly user friendly when creating personal maps. The map I made above of campgrounds I have visited or would like to visit was fairly easy to set up and detail with road lines and location descriptions. Geography becomes personal as people are able to make their own maps of whatever they like and have them seen on the web. Somewhat like the Wikipedia site, people are able to input their own opinions, knowledge, preferences, in geographic terms through their personal maps and sites.
This freedom for people to provide their own insight although they may not be experts is also the major pitfall of neogeography. Because it is so commonplace to make things your own through bias opinions and knowledge, what is posted online may not be the most reliable resources. There are millions of people with computers who are able to simply make something up, post it, and dress it up as if it is legitimate information, although it isn't. With multiple authors providing multiple "sources", it can become difficult to distinguish between what is real and what isn't. The web has become flooded with faulty information that simply "googling" something can provide tons of sites, some reliable, many not. Although I see neogeography as a positive for bringing geography into everyday lives of people and making its information more accessible, it worries me how many people can abuse that freedom to try and create false resources.
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