Google Maps

History of Google Maps

Google Maps first started in 2005 by two Danish brothers, Lars and Jens Eilstrub Rasmussen at the Sydney-based Where 2 Technologies. It was, at first, meant be downloaded separately by users, but then the company thought it’d be better to make it a web-based product to Google management. The application Google Maps transformed into the web in October 2004. However, the application was first announced on the Google Blog on February 8, 2005.

Behind every Google Map, there is a much more complex map that’s the key to your queries but hidden from your view, they contain the logic of places, e.g. speed limits and traffic conditions. This is the data that’s drawn from the user asking Google to navigate him from point A to point B.


Google started as a search engine, and it made money almost exclusively from ads, but when the mobile world exploded, this made where you’re searching from almost as important as what you’re searching for. Therefore, Google responded by creating a brand, operating system and ecosystem in Android. Fast forward to now, Google has mapped 28 million miles of road in 194 countries since its start.


Maps can be used instead of Google maps, when internet is not available. It's much more difficult to do that, and the person needs skills to know how to use a map. It can be confusing at times.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Google Maps:

Advantages:

·     Google maps offers the layout of roads, the locations of cities and towns, it also gives you the details like the speed limit and traffic conditions. It also allows you to use Street View perspective, letting you see houses storefronts and points of interest.

·     The maps can also be shared with anyone, making it easier for another to know your location, like a family member or a friend.

·     The Google Maps website gives you directions for trips by car, bike, foot or even public transportations.

Disadvantages:

·         Information from Google Maps may have errors

·     Google Maps is used by criminals and thieves, burglars have used Street View to look for any open doors or unlocked houses. This puts many people in danger of falling into these situations.

·     The extra information that Google Maps provide, like Street View images from the public can be at times disturbing and quite shocking. A lot of content had to be deleted of the site because of this reason.

Google Maps Controversy 

Google maps has removed Palestine off it's site and replaced it with Israel. This outraged a lot of Palestinians, they went out on the streets of Berlin in Germany, and protested with signs that say: "Google Israel -did you mean Palestine?"

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-maps-removes-palestine-says-petition-but-the-truth-is-far-more-complicated-than-that-a7181296.html

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Google-Maps

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-google-builds-its-maps-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-everything/261913/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10090014/The-story-of-Google-Maps.html
https://www.techwalla.com/articles/disadvantages-advantages-of-using-the-google-maps-website