Location and Data Visualisation Culture in Chile

Abstract

This chapter discusses the social and cultural consequences of living and under a constant spatial and temporal location system in Chile. The clearest example is Google maps which we can easily access on our mobile phones while they transmit our location every so often. That technology has changed driving or coordinating in real time with friends to hang out. But it has also changed public transport, mining, and fishing, and even the Ministry of Education has changed the way in which information is presented to parents by using GPS metadata about schools. Also, crime maps are now used to possibly make decisions about where to live, and sociologists are not only recording opinions in surveys but also the exact location where the interview was held. All this data is becoming public and is being used by companies and the government to make decisions that affect Chileans, many times without having any saying on it or, at other times, without caring about it. The consequences of this situation are unclear, but some trends and effects are discussed.