Landmarks play a key role in making us reach our destination. When we travel from one place to another we often look for landmarks to reach the destination. These could be “turn right from the 3rd signal” etc. Google Maps no wonder is a boon for all. Google launched driving directions for India in April this year. Now Google is moving a step ahead by introducing landmarks in driving directions for users of Google Maps. The first country globally to get this feature on Google Maps is India. This attempt was possible, thanks to the large amount of landmark data that users added through Google Map Maker.
Roads in India are not marked with road signs or if at all they are marked, they are barely visible. Often, we remember the landmarks in comparison to the roads. We tend to forget the names of the road we are traveling on but we do remember landmarks. While inviting guests we tend to tell them the landmark to reach the destination. We can now share such activity and the credit goes to Google. Google has enabled this activity online to share it with friends and family.
Users can now navigate around locations using Google Maps on their desktops and mobile phones. They can navigate around using landmarks like railway stations, bus stops, petrol stations, banks, schools, local businesses & traffic circles and signals.
Google has gathered good landmark data through user-created “Points of Interest” in Google Map Maker. The most useful landmarks for navigation are determined by Google’s new algorithm. This is based on importance, and nearness to the turns that the user is making and other available signals.
Google will now merge landmark data, counted turns (“the 2nd right”), intersection names and road names. Google will try to use any information that is most pertinent and useful.
As informed on the Official Google India blog, “On the desktop, we’re using landmarks in two ways – to identify where users need to turn, and to provide confirmation that they’re on the right track. We have also included navigational landmarks on your mobile phone with Google Maps for Mobile.”
Not only this, Google wants all of us to help Google ameliorate the landmark data by sharing our local knowledge on Google Map Maker so that Google’s endeavor to build the best navigation mechanism for users in India is fulfilled.
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