Google Maps is great – unless it’s not. Missing roads, wrong street names, closed bridges and more can really be a hindrance to your journey. And by ” obstructing your journey ”, I mean it will happen throws you into a blind rage as you step on the gas as you try to figure out where the hell to go when Maps leads you astray. But the frustrating inaccuracies are likely to diminish, thanks to a new feature fueled by the crowd.
Google Maps allows users to “draw” missing roads and other details directly from Maps on a desk.
“Add missing roads by drawing lines, rename roads quickly, change road directionality, and re-setting or removing incorrect paths. You can even leave we know if a road is closed with details such as dates, reasons and directions, ”Google wrote Thursday in a blog post.
To make a change, go to Maps in your browser and click on the menu button in the top left corner and scroll down to ‘Edit the map.’ From there, you will be able to pull in a missing path or make other changes. If this feature is left unchecked, it will of course be a nightmare that quickly renders Maps an unusable disaster. Therefore, before making any changes, Google will review any changes or additions proposed by the user before implementing them on Maps.
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The drawing function was not yet available when we tried to use it (you can already suggest edits, but the drawing is not there yet), but Google says it will be available in 80 countries within the next few months.
In addition to adding the drawing feature, Google also added the ability for people to add “photo updates” to businesix or other sites that are separate from reviews. For example, if you want to let other people know that the parking lot at a local railroad is only big enough for two cars, you can take a picture and post it on Maps as a simple header. To access this feature, just click on a location and click on the Updates tab, where you can find the option to upload a photo.
Navigation apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze (which Google also owns) remain one of the most useful types of apps, which offer tangible value – while also collecting our data to further strengthen the corporate oversight embedded in today’s life. But even if you navigate the privacy implications, it feels like you’re swinging a fist into a pitch black room, with these new updates, you should at least get a little less so when you travel on your next trip.