I trusted a trail app and ended up in a swamp

Tried using a hiking app for a new trail the other day. It said the path was clear, but I found myself knee-deep in muddy water. Do we rely too much on tech instead of common sense on trails?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessicaj285d ago

Have you seen how this happens with other apps too, like for food spots or driving directions? Last month, my map app sent me down a road closed for construction, and I wasted an hour because I didn't just look at the real signs. We're almost training ourselves to ignore what's right in front of us and follow the screen instead. When does relying on tech switch from being handy to getting in the way?

hannah_west395d ago

Last Tuesday in Austin, my GPS tried to send me down a road that was completely flooded. I almost followed it because I was so used to trusting the app, but the real world signs were BLATANT. That's the exact moment when handy tech becomes a real problem.

the_pat4d ago

Wasn't there a whole news story last year about people following their GPS right into a lake? It feels like once we start relying on these apps, we stop using our own eyes. That shift from handy tool to total brain-off crutch happens way too fast.