I’m not ashamed to admit it: life is hard without Google Maps. From finding the fastest route to work, searching for ‘pares places near me’, or navigating the public transport system in a foreign city, Google Maps is a godsend for someone ligawin like me who can’t drive home without a guide.
This year, the indispensable map service is celebrating two decades of saving millions of perennially lost people like me. In its 20th year, let’s revisit how Google Maps has evolved over the years – especially in the Philippine setting – and why it remains an essential tool for millions of Filipinos.
Map Evolution
Before Google Maps (or others like it), life was different. I remember when we drove to Baguio for a family trip – we had to buy a map, ask directions from friends (who each suggested different routes), check road signs… and we still ended up needing to ask people on the street if we were going the right way.
Fortunately, things were about to change. Like a gift straight from Heaven, Google launched Google Maps – an online map service that allowed users to search for places and get directions directly on their mobile phones.
Was it sexy? No. Would it bring in a mountain of money? Also no. But it was useful. It was a game changer.
Instead of boring static maps, people could zoom in, scroll, and easily move around a digital map. No more relying on vague landmarks or confusing (sometimes even downright wrong) directions from strangers.
Street View
A map’s a map – the call for exploration is inherent in humans since time immemorial and maps have existed long before we invented reading and writing. But scouting where you’re going before you get there? That’s a useful trick. Two years after launch, Google incorporated Street View to its app, allowing users to see city streets around the world in 360-degree panoramic glory.
For Filipinos, this feature was a killer feature in urban areas like Manila. Not sure if the coffee shop where you’re meeting your date has a parking area? Street View it. The feature quickly became an important tool for real estate hunting, trip planning, and even for something as simple as reminiscing about places users had visited in the past.
Real-Time Traffic Updates
If there’s one thing Filipinos know all too well, it’s soul-crushing traffic jams. We wake up an hour or two earlier, we cross our fingers and try alternative roads, we even disregard traffic rules – all in the hopes of shaving off precious minutes from our drive. When Google Maps started rolling out its real-time traffic data feature with constantly updating color-coded roads based on congestion levels, it was like an answered prayer. Now, you can see which roads are at a standstill and which ones can be alternates.
For places like Metro Manila where traffic is daily torture, this feature became a necessity. Drivers could check if EDSA was moving smoothly (a rare sight) or if they should take an alternative route. This technology relies on data from other users on the road, making it a crowdsourced solution to a perennial problem.
Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Before smartphones, getting lost was common. Even if you had a map, streets could have old or non-existent signs. Figuring out exactly where to turn was an iffy endeavor. That changed when Google Maps introduced turn-by-turn voice navigation.
Now, all it takes is for you to type in your destination, follow the voice instructions, and reach your destination without second-guessing every turn.
Public Transport Navigation
Most people don’t drive, and navigating a city’s public transport system can be quite confusing – especially if you’re not from around there. That’s why the integration of the public transit navigation feature in Google Maps was particularly useful.
This feature is even more helpful when you’re abroad, unsure of how to get from your hotel to the tourist spot you’ve been wanting to visit. Google maps can help you – from where to walk and how far, which bus or train to take (with schedules so you won’t fret), and which stations where you should get off. Thanks to this feature, you can avoid unscrupulous taxi drivers and navigate the foreign city like a local.
Offline Maps: Perfect for Traveling
Having a constantly updating map in the palm of your hand is a miracle, but without a reliable internet connection, it’s a useless thing. If (for any reason) you end up disconnected and needing Google Maps, you can use the offline feature. It allows users to pre-download a specific area and access it later without needing to be online. Just remember to save the map of the locale before your trip so you can still navigate even if there’s no mobile signal.
Local Business Listings
Like a good little app that has grown beyond its original directive, Google Maps evolved past being limited to just navigation. It became a powerful tool for discovering businesses. Now, when you search for an establishment (say a restaurant), you don’t just get the location; reviews, photos, contact details, and even the menu would be available to you.
This feature is widely used in the Philippines, where people check reviews before trying a new samgyupsal place. Small businesses that have taken care to attain good reviews find it easier to attract new customers.
Boosting Philippine Tourism
It may be more fun in the Philippines, but getting lost isn’t. Tourism gets a boost from Google Maps by helping both locals and foreigners explore the country. Popular destinations like Intramuros, Mayon Volcano, and Chocolate Hills are well-mapped, making travel planning easier.
Through Street View, people can also get a virtual preview of these places before visiting. This has helped promote lesser-known destinations as well, giving tourists more confidence in exploring off-the-beaten-path locations.
AI-Powered
Google Maps is getting more computing power, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). In a report from the Associated Press, Google Maps, will apparently “allow outside developers to tap into the language models underlying its Gemini technology to enable pose questions about specific destinations, such as apartments or restaurants, and get their queries answered within seconds.”
As AI becomes more prevalent in the apps and gadgets that we use, we can expect more integrations of functionalities in the future.
Thank You. Next?
From its unassuming start, Google Maps has grown to become an indispensable app for everyday life.
More improvements are bound to appear in the future. We might even see augmented reality (AR) features incorporated in the future, making it easier to find places and other data points just by pointing our phones at buildings or down the street. AI might also make maps even more personalized, giving users recommendations tailored to user’s preferences.
One thing is for sure: Google Maps is no longer just about finding your way – it’s about making life easier, one turn at a time.