Google Maps
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Google Maps is a free online platform and mobile application used for geographical navigation. The map types offered by this application include a default roadmap, a satellite image map, a hybrid between roadmap and satellite image and a terrain map [2]. Layers in Google Maps provide real-time traffic conditions, COVID-19 tracking, biking trails, transit routes, wildfire tracking and an interactive panorama called Street View. This technology also offers information on route and travel time for different modes of transportation including driving, transit, walking, cycling or flight [3]. This application provides a free application programming interface (API) for third-parties. With this API, third-parties can customize and display a map on their web pages and mobile devices [4].
With over one billion monthly active users [5], Google Maps was the most downloaded mapping application in the United States in 2020 [6].
Google Maps includes five different tabs: Explore, Go, Saved, Contribute and Updates. In its Explore tab, Google Maps offers recommendations for nearby food and drinks, things to do, shopping and services. In its Go tab, Google Maps allows for the user to pin trips for quick access to directions and estimated time of arrival [7]. In its Saved tab, users can personalize their content by storing their recently saved or nearby places, labeled places, a timeline of visited places, reservations from Gmail and Google Calendar, and more [8]. In its Contribute tab, users have the opportunity to earn points if content they contribute becomes published [9]. In its Updates tab, users can see trending businesses as well as reach out to businesses with the message feature [10].
Contents
Timeline
| Date | Key Development |
|---|---|
| October 2004 | Google buys out Where 2. Lars and Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, two brothers working at Where 2, pitched an idea to Google involving an interactive map. Their original mapping technology began as an application software, but they transformed their idea to work in a web browser before selling it to Google [11]. Instead of a static map, the two brothers wanted to incorporate zooming, scrolling and searching features [12]. |
| February 2005 | Google Maps is first launched as a desktop application [13]. |
| May 2007 | Street View is added |
| January 14, 2012 |
Overview
Map Type
Street View
Route Planning
Live Traffic and Transit features
Layers
Layers [14] Wildfires [15] COVID-19
API
Application Programming Interface
Features
Explore
Go
Saved
Contribute
Updates
Algorithms
Dijkstra's Algorithm
Ethical Dilemmas
Privacy
Misuse
Simon Weckert [16]
Accessibility
See Also
References
- ↑ https://developers.google.com/maps/faq#:~:text=The%20Google%20Maps%20Platform%20is%20available%20for%20Android%2C%20iOS%20or,and%20via%20HTTP%20web%20services.
- ↑ https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/maptypes
- ↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144339?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- ↑ https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/overview
- ↑ https://sites.google.com/a/pressatgoogle.com/google-maps-for-iphone/google-maps-metrics
- ↑ https://www.statista.com/statistics/865413/most-popular-us-mapping-apps-ranked-by-audience/
- ↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10271256?hl=en
- ↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/9948049?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
- ↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6304221?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
- ↑ https://www.chatmeter.com/blog/the-latest-google-maps-update-new-logo-better-navigation-more-experiences/
- ↑ https://medium.com/@lewgus/the-untold-story-about-the-founding-of-google-maps-e4a5430aec92
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/08/google-maps-10-anniversary-iphone-android-street-view
- ↑ https://blog.google/products/maps/look-back-15-years-mapping-world/
- ↑ https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/layers
- ↑ https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/29/tech/google-maps-wildfire-layer/index.html
- ↑ https://www.wired.com/story/99-phones-fake-google-maps-traffic-jam/
