Rethinking the Illusion of Map Manipulation (Dr. Ye Wenhan)

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More articles by Dr. Ye Wenhan:Support EJ Tech

go through Hong Kong Economic Times July 4, 2024

This articleauthorDr. Yip Man-honis the chairman of the Asian Marketing Technology Association and writes a column for the Hong Kong Economic Journal“The Words of God“.

The story happened about five years ago, when German artist Simon Weckert pushed a cart full of 99 smartphones through the streets of Berlin. Nothing special happened at first, but about an hour later, a long red line appeared on Google Maps, indicating that the road was congested. In fact, this was a deliberate illusion created by Weckert.

Even a complex system like Google Maps can be easily manipulated. (AFP file photo)

Each smartphone opened Google Maps and enabled location services, causing the Google Maps system to mistakenly believe that there were a large number of vehicles on the road, thus displaying information about traffic jams. Victor’s performance art has attracted widespread attention. On the one hand, it shows the loopholes of technology, even a complex system like Google Maps can be easily manipulated; on the other hand, it has caused people to reflect on the relationship between technology and society.

Victor is not the first person to try to “trick” Google Maps. In the past, there have been people who have used different methods to deceive the system. However, what makes his performance art interesting is that he uses a simple and effective method and explores it in a broader social context. He believes that technology is closely related to society. Technological development has not only changed our way of life, but also shaped our perception of the world. As a closed system, Google Maps lacks transparency in its data sources and usage, and is also uniquely shaping a “real world.”

As a closed system, Google Maps lacks transparency in its data sources and usage, and is also uniquely shaping a “real world”. (Reuters file photo)

In fact, Victor’s performance art has important practical significance. It reminds us that in an era of ever-increasing technological development, we need to remain vigilant and not be controlled by technology. We should think critically about technological development and actively participate in the governance of technology. This performance art makes us realize that the relationship between the technological world and the real world affects each other. We should explore how technology is used in many aspects of urban life, including navigation, accommodation, dating, transportation and delivery services, and think deeply about its impact on the environment, society and personal privacy. We also need to ensure that technological development is in line with the public interest and ethical principles, and try our best to avoid abuse and improper use.

At the same time, Victor also provides an opportunity for us to rethink the relationship between technology and society, and to raise some important questions. For example, how should we balance the convenience of technology and the invasion of privacy? How should technology giants operate their platforms responsibly? How should we ensure that the development of technology is in line with human values and social needs? There are no simple answers to these questions, but Victor’s performance art reminds us that these issues need to be further explored and discussed to ensure that technology truly benefits humanity rather than causing potential negative effects on us.