The Earth (and everything on it) in our pockets

I've always loved maps. My most prized possession is my 4'x6' US map in my living room. On it I have circled all of the places that I've been, with at least one marker in each of the lower 48 states. And along with big paper maps, I love their digital counterparts as well.

Computerized maps can do a lot for us. They can change their level of detail on demand, hide or display different types of zone data, and even give us instant turn-by-turn directions. Recently, APIs for Google Maps and Microsoft Live Maps have allowed web developers to create nifty applications that utilize these digital maps, giving all kinds of information about specific destinations like restaurants and post offices.

Concurrently with digital map technology improvements, mobile phone technologies will grow as well. Since I got my first Blackberry in 2006, mobile digital mapping capabilities have skyrocketed. I used to be able to see just a plain, no frills road map. Next, I was able to see satellite images. After that, I could get turn-by-turn directions. Now, I can see my exact location and get directions based on the surrounding traffic patterns -- and I still have the same phone!

Check out this article from TechCrunch that talks about a 3D mapping application (similar to Google Earth) from a company called Earthscape.

Mapping software and mobile technology will continue to evolve together, and their synergy will grow as well. Before too long I picture in-vehicle GPS devices becoming internet-abled, probably by pairing it with a 3G phone. Instead of waiting for a map update from the manufacturer and plugging them into the computer, the devices will consume streaming map data from Google and Mapquest. Let's not forget that they'll also have access to current road and traffic conditions as well as local business listings. Today, to get the most up-to-date information from my built-in GPS system, I need to purchase a DVD that comes out once a year and costs $200.

Additionally, I envision social networking sites to partner with digital mapping and mobile phone companies. Currently, when you log into Facebook, you can see which of your friends are 'online.' Imagine being able to see where your friends are, and, if you're using their mobile interface, which are within a mile, a half-mile, or 300 feet. How much easier would that make a trip to Walmart with the family? How much safer would our young children be if their exact location could be tracked by mom and dad?

Privacy could be an issue, of course, but let's assume (just for fun) that effective controls are in place. A mother could set up an alert that would call her if her child traveled more than a quarter mile from his or her school during the day. A group of college kids going to Bonnaroo together could split up and then find each other later based on their locations. Imagine that when updating your Twitter account, you could send along a GPS update! I would imagine that would be useful if you were lost and on the phone, trying to explain to your local friend where you were. Users could opt-in and out at will, ensuring complete privacy and unbelievable utility.

I'll bet that pretty soon, with technology improvements and enhanced cooperation between digital maps and mobile phones, we will all of a sudden know a lot more about the world that we live in. We will have the world in our pockets. Because when you bring it back to the basics, all that maps really do is answer a single , simple question: "Where is ____?" It's up to us -- and our technology -- to fill in the blank.