The complicated business of changing digital map names and boundaries
Feb 10, 2025
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The podcast dives into the complexities of digital map naming and the influence of government changes on platforms like Google Maps. It examines how corporate interests can affect geographic accuracy and the shift from traditional maps to digital formats. The discussion highlights the benefits of community-driven mapping versus corporate practices, revealing transparency issues. Additionally, it explores the subjective nature of maps and encourages a deeper understanding of diverse cartographic perspectives.
Digital mapping reflects both geographic data and the commercial interests of tech companies, highlighting the subjective nature of map creation.
VantageScore's expansion facilitates financial inclusion by allowing access to credit for millions more consumers compared to traditional scoring models.
Deep dives
The Influence of VantageScore on Financial Inclusion
VantageScore is recognized as the fastest growing credit scoring model, currently used by a majority of major banks and mandated for specific mortgage applications. It significantly contributes to financial inclusion by evaluating approximately 33 million additional consumers compared to competing credit scores. This expanded scoring capability enables more individuals to access credit, thereby enhancing their financial opportunities and stability. The promotion of VantageScore as beneficial for credit, while also being accessible to a broader population, underscores its role in shaping a more equitable financial landscape.
The Complexities of Digital Mapping and Its Implications
Digital mapping has evolved into a tool that reflects not only geographic data but also the commercial interests of the tech companies developing these maps. As highlighted by discussions about Google's handling of name changes, the approach to map creation has shifted from striving for objective accuracy to aligning with business purposes and local market expectations. Alternatives like OpenStreetMap demonstrate a community-driven mapping effort, where users actively engage in discussions about geographic representation, though disagreements still arise. Acknowledging the subjective nature of mapping encourages deeper understanding and critical analysis of the maps we use daily, prompting users to consider the motives behind their creation.
Geography has been part of President Trump’s agenda. His first day on the job, he signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and Denali, the highest peak in North America, will now go back to being called Mount McKinley.Private companies that make maps — analog or digital — don’t have to follow suit but at least one is. Google said in a post on X that it has long had a practice of applying name changes from official government sources. So, once the official federal naming database is changed, it’ll update Google Maps for people in the U.S. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with, Sterling Quinn Professor of Geography at Central Washington University, about whether tech companies generally have standard operating procedures around name changes.
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