Does technology make our outdoor experiences better?
The Point
The development of technology continually reshapes the way we interact with one another. The introduction of GPS technology and the smartphones source earth.com that allow everyone to use GPS is having profound effects on how we experience the great outdoors. But what will the future look like? Does technology make our outdoor experiences better?
When I was a kid…
Everyone has heard this from their father or grandfather. Some of us might already be using this phrase ourselves!
Growing up in central Pennsylvania, I spent a ton of time fishing the creeks, streams, and rivers. My dad would tell me all the time “When I was a kid, we didn’t have the fancy tackle and rods that you have. Our setups were basic and we caught just as many fish.”. I’m sure they did.
Hiking and backpacking today are no different. The development of new materials, more durable tools, and new gadgets make the experience different but not necessarily better. Frank Wall’s post “Lighter and better equipped? Hiking gear then and now” tackles this very point along with the dozen or so comments. The way we approach the great outdoors is in a constant state of change influenced by new technologies and tools.
But does the “experience” change? Are we having more fun today than those that laid footprints on the same trail 50 years ago? Does our superior technology allow us to experience the trail in a deeper way? A more rewarding way? Will we forget how to hike with a map and compass?
Staying connected
Today, we are certainly more connected. GPS-enabled devices allow us to record every step we take and easily share that experience with the world. We can download another hiker’s track and follow in their footsteps. We are more connected than ever before. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and a plethora of sites for outdoor enthusiasts allow us to instantly share our adventures with others that share an interest and passion for the outdoors.
We are certainly more capable of sharing our passions for exploration than those explorers that came before us. We have access to a much larger audience.
But is it better?
Sharing trail stories
Technology enhances how we discover the outdoors. There are tons of blogs on the web that document the experiences of very gracious explorers willing to take the time to tell their stories. We all approach the storytelling process in our own ways, some with photos, some with videos, and some with very detailed backgrounds and useful information about the plants and animals along the way.
The new technologies powering GPS-enabled smartphones allow explorers like us to share our stories with not just a bigger audience, but with everyone. We also have more tools to tell our story. Embedded Flickr albums, embedded YouTube videos, GPS tracks, and elevation profiles. Adventurers like Dave Pidgeon at Compass Points Media are trying to push trail guides to a new level by providing a rich media experience with their new trail guides called Trail Blazes which are available for download to any iPhone, iPod, or MP3 player.
But the big takeaway in my opinion is the downloadable GPS track or GPX file. The technological advances we have been witness to over the last five years are ushering in a new era for hikers and backpackers. The ability to download an adventure of another explorer and follow in their footprints is incredible. Smartphones allow ANYONE to take part. Our idea of a hike may no longer be simply a long walk through nature, but now even a stroll through the urban jungle with highlights of the neighborhood’s historical past. It might now include a track dotted with waypoints for the best cup of coffee, the most decadent dessert, or the easiest way to beat rush hour traffic.
GPS tracks are becoming more prominent on the web. If you are visiting a new city, you can find adventures in anything outdoor activity from mountain biking to hiking and backpacking to kayaking. The offering of GPS tracks will continue to expand as we become more imaginative in our exploration. It will soon be commonplace for tourists to download tracks for a variety of activities specific to the city they will be visiting before they arrive. Their itinerary will be defined by these tracks and their experience in a new city will largely be shaped by the experiences of the visitors and locals that came before them.
It all hinges on our social graph
GPS technologies will continue to advance in stride with smartphone technology which will enable all of us to use location-based services. We will continue to honor our sense of adventure and these technologies will allow us to do so with greater ease. We will look at our social graph, and our friends, on Facebook, Twitter, and EveryTrail to determine which experiences we want to have. Just like we do every day in our offline lives, we will rely on the recommendations of our peers, and our friends, to separate the signal from the noise. Our social graph will allow us to pinpoint the adventures that resonate with our sense of adventure, download the GPX file, and set off on the trail whether it is down a well-worn trail into the wilderness or around the corner in an urban jungle that we are exploring for the first time.
Conclusion
Our relationship with the outdoors will forever be changed by the introduction of GPS technologies. The impact is just now starting to be realized. Adventurers must be diligent in their quest to capture the full experience of their travels. Everyone will be an explorer on some level thanks to their GPS-enabled smartphone. The experiences we share must be conveyed in a form that can be shared starting with the downloadable GPX file and should represent the experience well for those that can only make the journey online.
The world is large and it is up to all of us explorers to share the best experiences we can.
