Google‘s all about making machines sound human, whether it’s on your phone, with Search or through the Assistant, the idea is that you talk to Google the way you talk to another human being. Now, it looks like they’re taking that human-like interaction a step further with what looks like a new addition to Google Maps.
Users of Google Maps (Android, iOS) — the search engine giant’s navigation and map app — have been noticing a change in the way the app issues voice-guided directions. Usually, these navigation apps will tell you tell you to turn onto a particular street, but sometimes those street names are hard to spot and it can get pretty confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the location.
The human thing to do when you give directions is to tell someone to turn at, before or after a particular landmark — and that’s exactly what Google Maps is doing right now.
Google Maps told me to make a right “right after the White Castle.” Does it do that now?
— Scott Stein (@jetscott) April 14, 2018
So @googlemaps instructed me to “turn right after Burger King” … I think this is the best update yet. #mindblown
— Deemah MS (@iamdeemah) April 14, 2018
In a way, it makes sense especially considering how frequently street signs here are being obscured by advertisements for loan sharks and male enhancement pills. When you use a gigantic landmark instead, it should be far more visible and recognisable for people who are unfamiliar with a particular location.
However, there are potential issues with this. Navigating Malaysian roads, I don’t use Google Maps even though I love their lane navigation feature, and that’s for good reason: It doesn’t update its map quickly enough to account for the frequent road closures we experience here. That’s why I use Waze because user reports there are awesome.
Because of how slow it updates here, I foresee awkward situations where Google Maps would tell you to turn after a Starbucks only to find that there’s no Starbucks at that location anymore.
How many of you here use Google Maps? Have you experienced this new “feature” yet? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments below!
