Expedition into the Digital Unknown

Our New Year’s Resolution in 2013 was to get better acquainted with social media, GPS and smartphone apps that will assist us in gaining a better understanding of the neighbourhoods, places and streets around us.  So we embarked on an “Expedition in to the Digital Unknown” in February from Highbury & Islington tube station to the Royal Geographical Society in South Kensington.  The Expedtion took place over 6 months and included 6 walks in which we investigated a range of mobile digital technologies including GPS and explored local neighbourhoods and tried to engage with locals via soical meidia.

The Expedition reached the Royal Geographical Society on Wednesday 10 July.  Beneath here you can read the feedback and reflections drawn from the 60+ participants who joined the walks over the duration of the Expedition.  Some 300 people also registered their interest but were too remote to join in person.

We would welcome approaches from anyone or organisation that would like to commission us to undertake a similar Expedition elsewhere or again in London.

  • WalkGeog1 – from Highbury & Islington tube station to Kings Cross ‘How can GPS, smartphone apps or social media enhance our walk and engage with those around us.” Friday 8 February – download reflections here.
  • WalkGeog2 – from University of Arts London (Central St Martins) “Geo-locating media – what’s available on a walk, and how to create your own” Friday 8 March – download reflections here.
  • WalkGeog3 – from St Pancras Library (nearest tube Kings Cross) “Eyes on the street – picturing the path, photography and social media“.  Monday 8 April – download reflections here
  • WalkGeog4 – from The Masonic Hall., Gt Queen St, (close to Covent Garden or Holborn tube stations) “Smartphones rescue this high street – a play with four characters – realising the potential of smartphone technologies to build communities.” Weds 8 May download reflections here
  • WalkGeog5 – from Green Park tube station (south side exit) “Games people play – can we build and engage with communities through smartphone games and flash mobs?”  Weds 12 June – download reflections here
  • WalkGeog6 – from Victoria tube station to The Royal Geographical Society, Exhibition Road, South Kensington ‘Community is King – socialising with smartphones‘ Weds 10 July – Download reflections here

View images taken on the walks: walkinggeography.info

Follow our WalkGeog walks: Tumblr – Facebook

This article previously appeared on the Rethinking Cities website.