terminology - How do you explain what GIS is?

Whenever I do a presentation about anything related to GIS, I consider the level of knowledge of GIS of the audience. The worst times are definitely when I need to explain GIS to a group that has almost no knowledge about it. I said virtually, because by know everyone has interacted with some type of electronic map in one way or another (elephant in the room is Google Maps), so I usually start from there and explain everything that is necessary to create Google Maps. I have found that works quite well.

I know there are several formal definitions of GIS.

The questions are:

• Which formal definition of GIS do you use?



• How do you explain it to somebody that doesnt know much about the field in elevator pitch style? (30 seconds)


• How do you explain it when you do have more time? (10 min)

Answer

Depends on the person I'm talking to.

1. My Mom: I make maps


2. My Geek Friends: I make Google Maps


3. Stranger on an airplane: "You know, like Google Earth?"


4. Geek stranger on an airplane: "I'm in 'da cloud"



5. Other Mapping Geeks: "I hate web mercator, don't you?"