ABSTRACT
The book begins with two starting points: 1) an art project based on asking people for directions; 2) the pervasive concern that people no longer have a sense of direction in a world where digital maps mediate navigation. Following both mundane and profound tracks l encounters with Google Maps, this chapter proposes a different route through Google's project of building a universal map. While location awareness is key to Google Maps' brand, this chapter expands an understanding of location awareness to include the many ways people negotiate and challenge Google's geographies and orientations.
