Map What We Take For Granted

So, we take a lot of things for granted. But what we take for granted the most is actually a lot closer to us than we think. Our smartphones and Maps.

Hey, where are you? I gave you the address right? Do you have GPS on your phone? USE IT. Gosh, you're really late!" -
said a guy in a business suit in the lobby of 111 Somerset.

That was what I overheard in the lobby. The guy in the business suit was really rude and he said all that, in a very bad tone in one breath, making the other party sound like a complete moron.

Is it true that all phones have GPS? Well, you make the assumption that everyone has a smartphone. But really not everyone does. The other assumption is that even feature phones have GPS. Perhaps that may be true. I will digress. Considering that 111 Somerset, is a pretty centrally located building, the old PUB (Public Utilities Board) building as i like to call it, the assumption is that everyone should know where it is. People don't. It's off Orchard Road in Singapore, as small as Singapore is, there are some protocols. Generally, addresses in Orchard Road are not recognized. Instead, building names are more common. 111 Somerset is the building name, but as i mentioned, the old PUB building, is probably something that resonates better. Especially with Taxi drivers.

Now back to the topic of smartphones, phones and GPS. I use them all the time on my HTC One (M8) or the new HTC One M9. It is pretty easy for me to forget that i may have a good phone with Google Maps on it. Yes, it may not be accurate all the time, but i do have it and do use it only like all the time. I totally take that for granted. But if we take a step back, we can't assume everyone has an HTC One (M8) or any smartphone with maps on it.

Furthermore, perhaps i've advanced a little as a power user. I go to the extent of using DataRoam on Singtel to ensure that when i'm in a foreign land, i can always rely on Google Maps, Google Translate and the good ole Internet to get me places. Or maybe even purchase a local SIM card. But i do remember a time where i felt the pinch, and would print out maps of the general area i wanted to go and just use that plus whatever hotel maps i get. Clearly - that's on a holiday and not on a business trip.

Back to the guy in the business suit. When i passed him again for a second time, later that day, it got more interesting. First of all, the guy he was screaming at seemed like he was an old guy from out of town and though dressed in business attire (pretty presumptuous of me), but he didn't seem all well-to-do. On top of which, he looked really really stressed. They were with a third party, a better dressed guy, also in a business suit clearly from out of town. And this was what he said...

Oh gosh, i'm so sorry i'm late in meeting you folks. I just got off the plane, i'm a little jet-lagged, i had a hard time getting to this place because the Taxi driver didn't know where i wanted to go, we went around in circles for a bit and for the life of me, i could not get my phone's data to work to use Google maps. But hey..."

I was really pissed with that guy in the suit thereafter. His yelling was not quite needed. I guess the point i'm trying to make is, we all have a lot to take for granted. GPS or Google Maps are just one of these examples. Also, i don't know if the guy that got screamed at called to say he was late before he got the scolding. Either way, let's not take it for granted that people have GPS, have the means to use it while overseas, provide some leeway with people from out of town and don't be rude. Scold him for being late, but make him sound like he's a moron without maps, he might just be - without maps.

Let's not forget and constantly take stock of our lives and map out what we take for granted, because, believe it or not, there are others less fortunate than ourselves.

P.S. It might be interesting to note that though almost all, if not all, Taxis in Singapore should be equipped with GPS, but not ALL Taxi drivers use them.