Bad journalism or fast IT reaction?

In today’s issue (04.11.2009, p.22) of L’esssentiel, a free daily newspaper in Luxembourg, I read an article about the fictive city Argleton… A city that apparently only exists in cyberspace and could be found on Google Maps, somewhere close to Liverpool, UK, Europe.

The newspaper article proposes a number of “explanations” for such an error. I particularly like the one explaining that companies providing (paid) acces to their online map services voluntarily insert such errors to track illegal uses of their intellectual property. I wonder if that’s really true…

It even relates that somebody from the University of Ormskirk went to the real place to check whether Argleton existed or not. I’ve never heard of such a University, by the way… 🙂 Another thing I’ll have to verify!

I did, of course, immediately check on Google Maps whether this phantom city could really be found via the iPhone’s Google Maps app… And the result is: No! No results for such a query.

Now I’m wondering, whether this is an example of bad journalism (telling a faked story) or has Google (or the map provider behind) updated their maps so fast that I could no longer find this entry… Hard to know…

How could I try to find an answer to this question? Any ideas?

I suspect that other “errors” in this article, if their are any to be found, would seriously reduce its credibility…

Posted via email from the material mind

About me

I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Luxembourg in the field of learning and teaching sciences. My PhD thesis was in cognitive psychology, focusing on implicit learning processes. I have always been interested in the integration of ICT in education, especially the strategic use of technology in teaching. With the advent of the digital revolution, I became interested in exploring the socio-cultural changes in learning caused by the use of digital technologies.

My current research focuses on the subjective theories of learning held by teachers and how these influence their use of ICT in the classroom. I am particularly interested in identifying factors that enable or hinder the use of ICT in teaching, and how these factors can be addressed.

Throughout my career, I have worked extensively as a teacher trainer in the field of educational technologies. I have experience with various forms of active pedagogy approaches, including problem-based, project-based, and design-research approaches. My goal is to help teachers integrate technology into their teaching practice in a way that enhances student learning and engagement.

3 Feedbacks on “Bad journalism or fast IT reaction?”

Mike Nolan says:

November 4, 2009 at 3:17 PM

I work at Edge Hill University and I can assure you it really does exist – in fact it’s celebrating its 125th anniversary next year!

I don’t believe Argleton is an example of a “trap” town. Trap streets do exist but they’re usually slight meanders of rivers or cul-de-sacks in the wrong place. Changing the name of a village is unlikely! It’s most likely that Google or Tele Atlas are scanning in data and the OCR got it wrong.

Google haven’t yet corrected the error on my view. In fact, someone in my team noticed it 13 months ago and reported it at the time so they’re pretty slow to update!
bob.reuter says:

November 4, 2009 at 7:17 PM

@Mike: Thanks for your help in solving this riddle… 🙂 So the press article was wrongly reporting that Argleton does not exist… and I did indeed find it, later, using Google Maps on my iPhone and on my Mac.

The place indicated by Google Maps nevertheless seems to be just a field and not really a town. Can you please provide the exact geolocation coordinates for the *real* city? 🙂
bob.reuter says:

November 4, 2009 at 7:20 PM

http://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/webservices/2009/11/01/argleton-goes-national/

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