When Maidenbaum, a neuroscientist who routinely asks participants to navigate virtual environments, tried to drive to a friend's new address, he realized how much he relies on GPS. His trip—finding train tracks, following a friend’s description—reminded him that our society is now heavily dependent on satellite navigation. He asked: what happens when it goes away?

Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s, GPS first saw combat use in 1991 and became publicly available in 2000. Within a decade, a billion receivers were in use worldwide, turning a military tool into an invisible guide for everyday life. Katherine Dunn’s book *Little Blue Dot* describes how GPS has become a “bazooka” for ordering delivery.

While G. Stanley Hall once noted a child’s fear of losing north, today many of us rely on a blue dot to orient ourselves. Psychologist Hegarty warns that over‑reliance on turn‑by‑turn directions erodes cognitive mapping and spatial memory, as studies from McGill University show poorer navigation when GPS is used.

During Israel’s GPS‑spoofing tests, Maidenbaum surveyed 600 people; 80 % still reached their destinations, but 20–25 % struggled. Historian William Rankin argues that digital maps center the world around the user, altering our sense of place and direction.