Commentary

摘要

As I noted at the outset, this is a very exciting time for cartography. New technologies have brought far greater attention to maps than they have enjoyed in the past, and enabled many new kinds of maps. It will be some time before the full impacts of these new technologies are recognized and understood. That said, however, this overview paper has identified four ways in which thinking about geographic information is changing. The new technologies appear to provide enhanced opportunities for a global perspective that is relatively free of the distortions inherent in map projections, by enabling digital versions of the familiar globe. They are clearly changing the role of geographic information in the everyday life of the citizen, who is now able to function both as a consumer and as a producer of geographic information. This engagement of the citizen is leading in turn to a rebalancing of the relationship between space and place, and between a global, standardized set of mapping practices and a more humanist, community-oriented approach. Finally, the new technologies allow maps to become dynamic and interactive, replacing a one-size-fits-all design with one that accommodates and supports specific well-defined use cases.