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Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

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

#251

Post by pezezin »

atty wrote: post #79
pezezin wrote: post #28

What I want is an option to find the route with the least amount of turns. I live in a place with little to no urban planning and extremely confusing street layout, and Google will consistently choose very twisty routes, only to later zoom out the map and find that I could have followed an L or S shaped route with just one or two turns.

As mentioned in another reply, Apple Maps many times suggests the “simplest” path (I believe it’s the minimum number of turns, but I’m not sure) as an option next to the fastest route. I think it’s my favorite feature of Apple Maps, and it’s the primary reason I use it over Google Maps.

Thanks for the tip. Is Apple Maps available for Android? Anyway, my girlfriend has iPhone, I will ask her to look for a few routes so we can compare.

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

#252

Post by pezezin »

Igelau wrote: post #143
pezezin wrote: post #28

What I want is an option to find the route with the least amount of turns. I live in a place with little to no urban planning and extremely confusing street layout, and Google will consistently choose very twisty routes, only to later zoom out the map and find that I could have followed an L or S shaped route with just one or two turns.

I got a route from them recently that wanted me to turn left on a six lane road, no traffic light, to make a quick right turn from the farthest lane, during rush hour.

The widest road where I live is only two lanes (per side), but it still wanted me to make an U turn in the middle of the road, with several cars tailing behind me and trucks coming in the opposite direction!

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

#253

Post by nxc18 »

globular-toast wrote: post #229
nxc18 wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That assumes you would be eating more to compensate for the activity. Many people, because they spend so much time in their car or just being sedentary otherwise, actually need to go out of their way to exercise (e.g. in a treadmill in a gym). And for people who don’t already exercise, the marginal increase in CO2 is probably worth it for society. Practical example: I primarily walk and cycle, used to have a car but…

> I chose walking because it is specifically calorie inefficient Surely you mean calorie efficient?

If you’re trying to lose weight (I am), or not gain weight in a western culture that encourages a high level of consumption, you want something that is inefficient.

I can get from point A to point B faster and with less energy expenditure (I think) on a bike.

Theoretically running is even more inefficient (depending on speed apparently) but I hate doing it and it spikes my appetite in a way that makes dieting unsustainable. Maybe it’s genetic, I remember my dad going through a phase where he ran enough to the point where he could do a half marathon while obese; he easily consumed more than he burned despite a very heavy training schedule.

I can walk for 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, or almost literally all day and still eat less than I use which is extremely efficient for my goals but extremely inefficient at making me fat.

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

#254

Post by throwawayfire »

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.…

> it consumes the battery (increasing carbon footprint)

Using web-searched estimates, the carbon cost of leaving this on constantly for a full year is approximately equivalent to the carbon cost of one single liter of petrol.

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

#255

Post by tomaskafka »

pezezin wrote: post #28

What I want is an option to find the route with the least amount of turns. I live in a place with little to no urban planning and extremely confusing street layout, and Google will consistently choose very twisty routes, only to later zoom out the map and find that I could have followed an L or S shaped route with just one or two turns.

There are many reasonable requests like this - I would love an option to take a scenic route when I have time, to see a new countryside just behind a hill from a highway I usually travel through.

Or city transport route with as few changes as possible, to enjoy the booknor to make travelling with toddler easier.

Guess these won't get a middle manager a promotion for rising some key metric, though.

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

#256

Post by throwawayfire »

dabreegster wrote: post #170
CameronNemo wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My pet peeve is that there is no hybrid bike/transit routing option. If you choose transit, they assume you are pedestrian. Maybe the option is there and I just have not found it.

I believe Citymapper has the edge on multi-modal routing, at least if they support your city.

Citymapper at least tries, but is still bad for bike+public transport.

I look at the options that Citymapper gives and then have to recalculate the route, in my head, correcting for wrong decisions about where I'll have access to a bike.

(Yes, it'll be quicker if I cycle my own bike from my home to the nearest station. No, I won't be cycling a hire bike 111 minutes away from its closest docking port.)

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

#257

Post by dwighttk »

oceliker wrote: post #46
murphyslab wrote: post #30

It's also the cheapest route to drive, as it's optimizing for lower fuel consumption: With insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab, we’re building a new routing model that optimizes for lower fuel consumption based on factors like road incline and traffic congestion. Provided that the few extra minutes aren't critical to one's wallet, it's a cost savings. For me those extra minutes…

> 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.

Especially since some of those side streets don’t exist

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

#258

Post by dwighttk »

alanbernstein wrote: post #147
drusepth wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, if there were a feature that only cut through small side streets and avoided larger streets, I'd use that all the time!

The bike route feature does that, but please don't drive cars on bike paths.

At least keep just two wheels on the ground if you’re gonna...

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

#259

Post by dwighttk »

cam_l wrote: post #163
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.

Google maps often sends me on unsealed roads to save a few minutes, when driving in the country. Don't get me wrong, I love this feature but I can understand others would not.

Be careful out in Utah/Nevada.

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

#260

Post by benhurmarcel »

murphyslab wrote: post #30

It's also the cheapest route to drive, as it's optimizing for lower fuel consumption: With insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab, we’re building a new routing model that optimizes for lower fuel consumption based on factors like road incline and traffic congestion. Provided that the few extra minutes aren't critical to one's wallet, it's a cost savings. For me those extra minutes…

> It's also the cheapest route to drive

It would be the cheapest if it accounted for toll prices.

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