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Google Maps Floor Plans

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Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#81

Post by cwiz »

dan85 wrote: post #11

Does the GPS work indoors?

No. There are ways to do indoor positioning indoors: WiFi fingerprinting and supersonic marks.

Triangulation (trilateration) the way it's used in GPS will not work indoors because it's impossible to build accurate signal propagation model – model would be extremely complicated.

On the other hand signal propagation model can be learned via sampling actual signals in different spots on site. There are two ways to sample signals: 1) direct 2) indirect (via statistical models like SLAM)

Positioning can be done by comparing signal strengths from model and actual device and feeding them to some statistical positioning algorithm like particle filter or LSE. These algorithms use not only signal strengths but accelerometer, gyro and magnetic sensors for movement model. Fingerprinting techniques can provide up to 30 cm accuracy.

Huge win of WiFi fingerprinting is that it works on existing consumer-level hardware. But the downside is that you cannot scan WiFi in iOS public API.

There is less accurate way to position user indoors using supersonic marks – and it works on any existing phone.

Companies who do indoor positioning: WiFiSlam, Qubulus, WalkBase, Google, Nokia and we (applying to yc :). Some provide APIs, some are in stealth mode and Google has indoor positioning in some US and Japanese malls and airports.

Personally I think that there is huge opportunity for location-aware apps for malls, airports, parking lots, hospitals, etc and it has not been tackled much by anyone yet.

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#82

Post by isnotchicago »

Keyframe wrote: post #55
rdl wrote: post #6

How long until someone uses these to make first person shooter game maps automatically? (Using Google Maps outdoor mapping data for games is a great idea, like the tower defense game from a couple days ago).

What game from a couple of days ago?

http://www.mapstd.com/ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3784025

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#83

Post by aerosuch »

kenrikm wrote: post #36

They are directly targeting the market that Point Inside is in. I'm curious why they did not just purchase them rather than building something that will need to gain traction?

Different business model? Google caters to highest-bidder advertisers. PointInside works more directly with building owners, like retailers:

http://www.pointinside.com/blog/2011/12/what-google-indoor-m...

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#84

Post by brudgers »

esrauch wrote: post #76
brudgers wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not the same as Google making sure Google has permission to use them. Standard AIA contract language allows the owner to utilize the plans to construct their project. The author (architect) retains copyright.

IANAL but it seems to be that the layout of a particular existing building is factual information and therefore cannot be copyrighted, just like the location of streets cannot be copyrighted. I guess it's slightly more hairy because architecture is considered to be artistic as well as functional, whereas street layouts are generally only considered to be functional, but I still think that would stand.

In the US, architectural designs can be protected by copyright, but it is uncommon.

On the other hand, architectural drawings(aka "blueprints") are automatically protected by copyright as soon as they are published.

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#85

Post by jrockway »

zupreme wrote: post #62
jrockway wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is probably only partially true. If the goal was really to confuse you, they would not put related products near each other (the cheese would be with the bananas, the milk would be with the dishwasher detergent, etc.) They would also rearrange the store every week, so that you wouldn't be able to learn where items are. Honestly, I've never seen stores arranged for impulse buying except to have certain items prom…

Jon, Thanks for the interesting perspective. I've actually opened, run, and sold a retail store before (mobile phones and accessories) so, while the type of layout logic I referred to in my comment above did not apply to my store (because it wasn't large enough) I did read ALOT on the subject and was part of the local Chamber of Commerce so I can assure you that impulse buying considerations are a big part of why sto…

Sure, but how does a map defeat the measures stores take to get you to buy impulse items. If you want to buy milk, there are two possibilities. The first is, you know exactly which brand of milk you want to buy, and you will seek it out explicitly. Or, you don't care, and will pick whatever's easiest. That's the area for optimization: pick the highest profit milk and make it the first one the doesn't-care-about-milk consumer sees. Put lots of impulse items on the way to the milk. And so on. A map on the phone does nothing to prevent impulse buys.

On the other hand, why even bother going to your store when groceries can be ordered online and delivered? Then you don't need a map at all.

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#86

Post by 7952 »

aerosuch wrote: post #68
aubergene wrote: post #53

Google are building various tools which allow users to contribute data (especially to maps). However they don't provide an easy way for users to choose to release their own contributions under an open license. I asked Marissa Mayer this question at SXSW 2011 and she said they would change it, however I haven't seen this happen. I would very much like to see Google change their policy so that by default any user gener…

Julian - just listened to your question from SXSW last year. I was part of another discussion on indoor maps this year: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP100110 One of my fellow panelists from Google discussed ways for developers to use Google's existing map tools to create their own indoor map content. This uses the Google Maps slippy map API, but doesn't require the developer to submit indoor map data t…

Just curious, but why exactly do you want indoor mapping? Is finding your way around buildings really that problematic? What exactly is the point?

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#87

Post by thezilch »

7952 wrote: post #86
aerosuch wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Julian - just listened to your question from SXSW last year. I was part of another discussion on indoor maps this year: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP100110 One of my fellow panelists from Google discussed ways for developers to use Google's existing map tools to create their own indoor map content. This uses the Google Maps slippy map API, but doesn't require the developer to submit indoor map data t…

Just curious, but why exactly do you want indoor mapping? Is finding your way around buildings really that problematic? What exactly is the point?

Google's Project Glass [0], which depicts a user entering a book store and wanting to locate the "Music section." [1]

[0] https://plus.google.com/u/0/111626127367496192147/posts

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4&feature=youtu...

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#88

Post by vellum »

7952 wrote: post #86
aerosuch wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Julian - just listened to your question from SXSW last year. I was part of another discussion on indoor maps this year: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP100110 One of my fellow panelists from Google discussed ways for developers to use Google's existing map tools to create their own indoor map content. This uses the Google Maps slippy map API, but doesn't require the developer to submit indoor map data t…

Just curious, but why exactly do you want indoor mapping? Is finding your way around buildings really that problematic? What exactly is the point?

It's for large buildings like airports or malls. You save a few minutes by not having to find a map kiosk.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-frontier-for-goog...

Re: Google Maps Floor Plans

#90

Post by aerosuch »

7952 wrote: post #86
aerosuch wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Julian - just listened to your question from SXSW last year. I was part of another discussion on indoor maps this year: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP100110 One of my fellow panelists from Google discussed ways for developers to use Google's existing map tools to create their own indoor map content. This uses the Google Maps slippy map API, but doesn't require the developer to submit indoor map data t…

Just curious, but why exactly do you want indoor mapping? Is finding your way around buildings really that problematic? What exactly is the point?

Yes, we can live without indoor maps, but we're suffering through a lot of inefficiencies just because we don't know yet that there's a better option.

I want indoor maps because they can help reduce healthcare costs. It costs us all money when people get lost in hospitals. While environmental signage helps, it's often not sufficient. Visitors end up interrupting doctors and nurses to ask for directions. This directly costs the hospital money (leads to higher personnel costs), and leads to a poor customer experience (affects the recovery process for patients and families). It is surprising how many people get lost in hospitals: http://twitter.com/lostinabuilding

In addition to navigation, there are uses for facilities management, inventory management, real estate sales, and analytics on how people use buildings. I'm a big fan of using data to improve human efficiency, and these can help save time/energy/money.

For retail environments, indoor maps present targeted advertising opportunities, which can lead to more efficient advertising spending for brands and retailers, and time savings for consumers. This is part of why Google is so interested in indoor maps.

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