Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI • Hacker News Board

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#211

Post by m463 » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 5:32 AM UTC

SomeCallMeTim wrote: post #94

ladberg wrote: post #4

The important paragraph that most people probably care about: Soon, Google Maps will default to the route with the lowest carbon footprint when it has approximately the same ETA as the fastest route. In cases where the eco-friendly route could significantly increase your ETA, we’ll let you compare the relative CO2 impact between routes so you can choose. Always want the fastest route? That’s OK too — simply adjust yo…

I'd be curious to know if that maps onto the lowest energy use in an electric car. Because I've been wanting that feature for long-distance EV trips for a while now.

The tesla nav system has a lot of the data for this.

It just does not let you specifically route for energy use. You can choose to route for money (tolls), charging stops or traffic if you enabled online routing.

When you plan a trip, it has a page that shows a graph with predicted vs actual energy use. If you keep the "actual" line above the "predicted" line, you will make it, otherwise you may not.

Thing is, the predicted line clearly shows the route ahead with the slope of the curve mapping against climbs and descents.

If you read the manual it says:

"The calculation is an estimate based on driving style (predicted speed, etc.) and environmental factors (elevation changes, temperature, etc.)"

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#212

Post by john61 » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 5:35 AM UTC

sanxiyn wrote: post #207

48snickers wrote: post #204

This is the opposite of a map. A map helps you build a mental model for how you navigate space by showing you a broad view of the land, potentially enabling you to navigate to anywhere. This offloads the effort of learning, such that you don’t learn to navigate the space yourself, and only gets you from one point to another.

You are right, but most people want navigational aid, not map. Maps were popular because they were good navigational aid, not because they help building mental model. If better navigational aid becomes available, most people will gladly abandon map's mental model building feature.

Not if you experience the self exploration of the world around you as a fun activity. This map disables mindfulness.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#213

Post by godelski » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 5:37 AM UTC

There's two options I would love in Maps.

1) "I already know this part" where the navigator is muted for part of the journey and you can just get directions for the parts you don't know. I feel like this is a very common occurrence for people but we just leave the navigation on and it consumes the battery (increasing carbon footprint) and distracts us (increasing danger)

2) Multi-method transit. It's a nice day out. I don't want to drive directly to my destination. Show me free parking and let me walk half a mile to finish. This would also encourage more people to walk and be a far greener option.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#214

Post by klyrs » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 5:47 AM UTC

shrikant wrote: post #173

klyrs wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if they released the exact same product as "minimize fuel cost if it doesn't take more time" and set that to default? You can still change to "fastest" if that's your preference. My personal annoyance: their walking directions assume you don't know parkour and there isn't even an option for that

I genuinely cannot tell if that last bit is sarcasm or not!

It's a near-truth, told to own my selfish tendencies while I'm on the topic of somebody else's. The truth being that I don't want that info from google, rather I delight in beating its time. I do wish that I could dial in a walking speed, though, and so do people with reduced mobility.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#215

Post by throwawgler87 » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 5:57 AM UTC

atty wrote: post #77

oceliker wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If I could, I'd usually choose the lowest stress route! Apple Maps sometimes features alternate routes that are "simpler" or with "fewer turns", which I think is a very nice feature. I'd rather not cut through small side streets just to save 1-2 minutes.

I almost always take the simpler route, especially in areas I’m not familiar with. It’s a very nice quality of life feature that doesn’t get mentioned much.

Absolutely. I wish Google would do simple, sane routes by default, emphasizing roads that were meant to be thoroughfares. I feel bad, and carsick, treating a quiet and winding neighborhood like a highway. And I hate all the traffic that goes along my residential side road presumably due to Google Maps.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#216

Post by tsjq » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 6:01 AM UTC

godelski wrote: post #213

There's two options I would love in Maps. 1) "I already know this part" where the navigator is muted for part of the journey and you can just get directions for the parts you don't know. I feel like this is a very common occurrence for people but we just leave the navigation on and it consumes the battery (increasing carbon footprint) and distracts us (increasing danger) 2) Multi-method transit. It's a nice day out.…

Totally agree with the [1]. I have experienced it many times.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#217

Post by tsjq » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 6:03 AM UTC

quinncom wrote: post #96

I'm happy about this, and I really hope they provide a transparent explanation why they suggest each route. I would welcome a list of the primary attributes of each suggested route like "this route has many stoplights", "this highway can be dangerous during twilight", "this route avoids quiet neighborhoods". One routing algorithm I'm really hoping for: Instead of navigating to a point, I wish Google Maps would let me…

Yes. These are good ones. I'd be happy to pay for such "premium features" if they wanna make money

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#218

Post by tsjq » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 6:07 AM UTC

nullc wrote: post #132

About time! I've been complaining to google for years about it aggressively recommending and rerouting onto a 20+ mile long detour around the east bay to save a minute by its own estimation (but probably lose several minutes much of the time, in reality). I also filed complaints with CARB and the state legislature because google was unresponsive.

Extra 20 miles and shorter by a minute : I'd guess the other route is a hell to drive. Bad roads / congestion / stoplights / low speed limits/ etc

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#219

Post by tsjq » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 6:08 AM UTC

mercurywells wrote: post #43

Did April fools come early this year?

It is April 1st in may parts of the world already

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#220

Post by ashkankiani » Thu, Apr 01, 2021, 6:24 AM UTC

I tried out the live view in Tokyo, but the constant warnings about "don't use it while walking" (which are often false positives anyway, and regardless of the concept that I'm pretty sure when it's safe to hold up a phone being a 28yo adult) make it basically unusable for me.