Google originally opened its doors as an online search company. Since, they have expanded into a diverse organization with fingers in a range of matters as diverse as mapping and social networking platforms. Google Maps is playing a significant part in connecting the real world with the online one. People are using mapping as much as their phones, email, texting and social media.
Google is looking to be a major player in the future of mobile information and Google Maps is one of its major players. (This idea is supported by the fact that one of the largest tech companies in the world, Apple, felt the need to develop its own mapping system.) From its growing business model, it would appear Google’s challenge is to organize information, making it easily accessible and useful for everyone in their daily routines. In fact, it is likely mapping will become a key battleground in the future of mobile phones.
The future of virtual mapping will definitely stretch the imagination. Right now, using Google Maps is a great outlet for local app developers and virtual sightseeing. People are plugging locations into the platform and going to France or Columbia. On the other hand, this same technology is causing some concern. While images that Maps and Street View captures are currently not real time, it’s likely these solutions will steadily advance to that capability. This has already prompted arguments about invasion of privacy. The photography has actually caught people in embarrassing situations they would rather not share with the world at large. In response, Google offers users the option to report inappropriate images on Maps.
In the meantime, Google Maps is visualizing a platform for mapping that is both context aware and emotional. They want to generate an interactive experience, allowing users to rate places and note people they have hung out with. They are looking to reflect more real life connections with personal data. They want a platform where a user could zoom in a city and provide the score of a sports game. While on vacation, Maps would utilize user profiles to find interests and sites.
Google Maps is going to reinvent mapping, offering users an immersive online experience that expands far beyond finding a location.
