Just as the internet evolved from Web1 to Web2 to Web3, mapping technology is experiencing its own paradigm shift. This episode explores how we've progressed from static maps to real-time navigation to contextual spatial understanding—and why this convergence of technologies represents a foundational shift that most people haven't recognized yet.
Mapping 1.0 (3000 BCE - 1990s): Locate
- Fixed coordinates, static maps, survey-based
- Key milestone: GPS consumer access (1995)
Mapping 2.0 (1996 - 2010s): Navigate
- Interactive wayfinding, real-time updates, universal smartphone access
- Key examples: MapQuest (1996), Google Maps (2005), Waze (2013)
Mapping 3.0 (2010s - Present): Understand
- Temporal intelligence, predictive insights, contextual interpretation
- Multidimensional data layers (environmental, social, economic)
- Key capabilities: ML traffic prediction, AR overlay, computer vision
Highlights:
- Just as internet evolved from Read (Web1) → Read/Write (Web2) → Read/Write/Own (Web3), maps evolved from Locate → Navigate → Understand
- Mapping 1.0 lasted millennia, 2.0 lasted ~20 years, 3.0 is evolving rapidly as a foundational layer rather than distinct domain
Host: Bryce Bladon | Editor: AJ Fillari | Sponsors: Spexi.com / LayerDrone.org
