But in this case, the traffic jam was apparently the work of Simon Weckert, a Berlin-based artist. He calls it “Google Maps Hacks” — performance art meant to demonstrate the pervasive, real-life influence of modern technology. He got the idea after going to a May Day demonstration in Berlin and noticing that Google Maps portrayed the gathering of people as a traffic jam. “Or, let’s say, 99 problems for technology services.”ADAn assistant wandered the streets of Berlin with the wagon in tow, smartphones piled inside. As he made his way down a given street, according to a video Weckert shared on his website, it would go from green to orange to red on Google Maps.

Source: Washington Post February 04, 2020 23:51 UTC