What we have lost now that we found the blue dot
Summary
On Point explores how GPS transformed navigation and modern infrastructure, featuring author Catherine Dunn and experts on spatial cognition and signal vulnerabilities. The episode contrasts nostalgic stories of getting lost with today’s heavy reliance on digital maps, which can erode personal navigational skills. It also highlights critical security risks, such as widespread spoofing and jamming, warning that society remains dangerously unprepared for potential GPS outages.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and On Point Club membership intro
Sheila Purcell's childhood 'Jacobson Shortcuts'
Introduction of Catherine Dunn and GPS reliance
GPS origins: Vietnam War and Korean Air Lines crash
Listener perspectives on using vs. avoiding GPS
Dual-use history and selective availability
How GPS works: satellites, time, and privacy
Research on GPS impact on navigational skills
High-stakes navigation and listener anecdotes
GPS in infrastructure, supply chains, and finance
GPS spoofing vulnerabilities and Todd Humphreys
National security risks and economic impact of GPS failure
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