The directions used to illustrate the improvements would have been more interesting if all were between the same points.
Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
11–20 of 38 posts
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#12Outrageously cool. This is a textbook for how to build stuff in the modern way. 1) Start with a design 2) Get feedback 3) Improve design 4) Goto Step 2 This would also be fantastic in other places with roadnames. For example, walking direction around a city like D.C. "walk away from the Washington Monument and Towards the Lincoln Memorial."
aka - landmark based navigation
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#13Looking forward to when this comes to the USA: in Pittsburgh, directions are typically given via landmark, as the road system is beyond chaotic because of the hills, rivers, and the fact that downtown is a triangle.
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#14So how much did it cost U. N. A. Cycle Traders to be listed as a "landmark"?
It brings up a mildly interesting machine vision problem: using the Street View data to confirm that the "landmark" business has a highly visible sign which is visible from eye-level when you're walking (and to confirm that the sign is written in Latin alphabet, if it's an international user trying to get directions). Maybe they'll give reduced advertising rates for better signs (e.g. highly contrasting colors, prominently lists the street address, etc.)
Apparently they have been busy collecting Street View images for India: http://sushubh.net/3539-google-street-view-india
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#15I am not sure why this is given as "How an Indian" would give directions , that's how we do it here in London as well. No one says "Go Southeast for 0.2 kms" , you are oriented and directed via a well-known landmark.
But as a technology this is fantastic.
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#16Just tried a few directions from my house... This is a huge improvement! Though one could do a slightly better landmark selection but this is awesome...
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#17I am not sure why this is given as "How an Indian" would give directions , that's how we do it here in London as well. No one says "Go Southeast for 0.2 kms" , you are oriented and directed via a well-known landmark. But as a technology this is fantastic.
Well, in London you might say 'turn left down XYZ road', so we have a system of navigating that's less changeable than things like shop names.
Not that it isn't a neat system to have, but I'm guessing it's pretty labour-intensive to get off the ground, and needs a lot more maintenance to keep it reliable.
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#18I am not sure why this is given as "How an Indian" would give directions , that's how we do it here in London as well. No one says "Go Southeast for 0.2 kms" , you are oriented and directed via a well-known landmark. But as a technology this is fantastic.
Well, in London you might say 'turn left down XYZ road', so we have a system of navigating that's less changeable than things like shop names. Not that it isn't a neat system to have, but I'm guessing it's pretty labour-intensive to get off the ground, and needs a lot more maintenance to keep it reliable.
You do say "Turn left down XYZ Road" but if you don't know or can't see which road you are on(happens quite often in the small bylanes in Central London), there is always the very reliable, do you see "name of pub" in front of you - walk towards it.
I was indicating the latter.
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#19People dont know about this - but another company in Delhi (India) : Routeguru.com, does this too.
But I guess you cant beat the mothership - even with a headstart.
Re: Google Maps India learns to navigate like a local
#20"We found that using landmarks in directions helps for two simple reasons: they are easier to see than street signs and they are easier to remember than street names. Spotting a pink building on a corner or remembering to turn after a gas station is much easier than trying to recall an unfamiliar street name."
The Third and Most important reason would be that most of the time, you won't find a board with a road name :). I don't mean it in a bad way, and it has never stopped me from going where I want in india.
The best way to find a route in india (and i guess in most of the fdeveloping countries) is to just stop and ask. and if you are in luck, people will even travel with you to show you the place.
But wonderful thinking from google. they clearly know what they are doing.