Travel writer Tara McAndrew had a revelation in Wellington, N.Z., when she found herself at a forest edge instead of the rental apartment she sought. This led her to reconsider her heavy reliance on GPS for navigation. Over the past decade, McAndrew, based in Ontario and known for her work with Travel with TMc, has traveled extensively worldwide. While she uses Waze or Google Maps for directions in unfamiliar cities, she intentionally navigates her way back using her own skills.
McAndrew emphasizes the importance of balancing technology with cognitive abilities, acknowledging the decline in her navigational skills due to excessive GPS use. Although statistics show that around two billion users rely on Google Maps monthly, research indicates that depending less on satellite navigation tools can be beneficial for brain health.
A study conducted at McGill University in 2020 revealed that habitual GPS users exhibited poorer spatial memory and a decline in this skill over time. The hippocampus, responsible for spatial memory, may atrophy from underuse, potentially leading to cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s disease. To combat this, neuroscientist Louisa Dahmani suggests actively engaging with surroundings during navigation and occasionally navigating without technological aids.
Incorporating traditional ways of navigation, Brenda Holder, a Cree traditional knowledge keeper, emphasizes the significance of staying calm and observing natural clues in the environment when feeling lost. By teaching land-navigation skills through Mahikan Trails, Holder encourages individuals to rely on natural elements like the sun, stars, and mountains for wayfinding.
While technology plays a vital role in navigation, recent developments, such as the potential vulnerability of GPS signals to interference, have led authorities to revisit older navigation methods as backups. Education on celestial navigation and the importance of maintaining traditional navigation skills is gaining traction in response to potential GPS failures.
McAndrew reflects on her evolving navigation skills, noting a decline in her ability to visualize her hometown due to increased reliance on GPS. Starting with map reading in her childhood and progressing to printed directions, she now values her foundational skills in navigation and aims to reduce dependence on GPS tools during her travels.
