“Alone in the woods the road is narrow
Looking at the dark street traps!
Nothing to be scared! Don’t be mellow!
We got with us dem Google maps!”
The other day navigating in some remote corner of the village of my father, Google was confidently showing us the way!
Got me thinking how it works!
Read on!
Remember how going or travelling to any place was a big issue if you did not know the direction? or the traffic?
How an expert uncle (By default it would be a guy! No gender bias here but that is simply an observation!) would tell that this particular route is the best!
Even when you do arrive at the destination properly, he would tell you that you could have taken his route! Of course like Rajnikanth you would like to say, “EN wayi, thani wayi!” but you could not!
Now of course most of the older folks have relented that Google Maps knows the best! Of course the constant re routing and stuff is a big irritation! Over the years now though rest assured, if Google tells you an estimate then more often than not, it will be correct!
Even Google of course cannot handle the Bangalore traffic and rains and the sudden one way and road closure but still it gets it as close as possible! Even Auto rickshaw drivers also have now accepted Google maps!
I still remember how at every nook and turn I used to ask about the direction and the place! Once going to a theatre in my bike I tried a different route some years back and reached the same place which would have taken ten minutes; in two hours!
The guy who finally told me the way gave me a look of extreme pity!
I have never been shy of asking directions and I remember while driving, I used to stop and ask and go! This extra time was usually added to the time taken to reach the destination!
Now for the past several years, the platform has evolved from an exclusively web-based application to the go-to navigational mobile app that provides updated and highly accurate real-time information against locational and directional queries!
Google apparently uses a combination of satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° panoramic views of streets, and GIS data to provide up-to-date, comprehensive digital maps for route planning and travel via foot, car, bicycle, air or public transit!
Did you know? Over 150 million people worldwide are contributing information to Google Maps, with 50 million daily updates coming from the community and the public sector! It has been told that Google Maps is a data Monster which, constantly feeding off information and updating and optimising the system to provide users with better recommendations and more current information!
I guess that is why other map apps like Apple cannot be as accurate as Google since the experience and data collection is more!
Of course the collection of so much data is a concern for privacy especially since it has been shown that Google knows your location history even when your phone is not switched on!
That is may be a price to pay for the convenience which allows you to know the direction in a remote place late in the night. Now that is no laughing matter right?
Laughing though is obvious matter when we see birthday celebrity Keshto Mukherjee act!
Now guide yourself to your bed and sleep!
Shubh ratri!
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