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There is no doubt that neogeography has changed the way in which people live and interact with each other. As just a small component of an ever-advancing technological world, neogeography has many positive implications and uses, and has the potential to (and does) vastly improve our lives. Perhaps the most noticeable advantage to the average person is neogeography's revolution of navigation. Navigation has been made more precise, more accurate, faster, and more easily accessible with the existence and prevalence of geography systems in cell phones, computers, GPS devices in cars, and many other devices. With the aid of technology, it is almost difficult for one to be lost in this modern era of navigation. Additionally, law enforcement and EMS can utilize GPS tracking systems in cell phones and other devices to find a criminal's last known location, locate an individual in need of help, or perform a variety of other tasks that are helpful to society. Furthermore, the existence of the internet has given the average person a stronger voice in the process of online and interactive mapmaking, as a sort of "democratization" of mapping has emerged in the past few years. There are instances in which people can vote for the names of new bridges, roads, and other structures or places that will soon be featured on new maps. This sort of interaction leads to an increased geographic awareness of the average person, and serves to highlight and promote the importance of GIS and neogeography alike. As more and more individuals become geographically aware, we can more easily improve upon existing geographic systems and technologies that serve to help us all.
Of course there are downsides and pitfalls to a rapidly evolving society in which neogeography is so prevalent. Privacy is one of the main concerns, as neogeography can sometimes be invasive in nature, in that an individual's location may be broadcasted against his or her will on a social networking website. In addition to this, criminals, or other individuals with nefarious intentions can easily take advantage of knowing the location of a person of interest, which is often broadcasted in real time. It is not uncommon for companies such as Apple to track customer's locations and browsing histories to use for advertising purposes, and there is currently a heated debate as to whether or not certain government tracking practices are unconstitutional. In addition to the individual suffering from a lack of privacy, modern governments should expect the world to know of radar facilities, or other installations with sensitive locations, should they be in plain view on the surface of the earth. Aside from privacy concerns, the exponential increase in technological innovation has caused a similar rise in the expectations of these technologies and how they perform. It's easy and common to become angry in response to a navigation system giving slightly less than perfect directions. Finally, the cost of technology relating to neogeography is something to consider, as technological innovation is rarely cheap, and has vast financial implications on companies or agencies working to contribute to a rapidly evolving world.
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