Career-realted article

Google maps: not perfect just useful

Google has announced that they are going through a period of overhaul on its maps app since other companies maps have been published with outrageous mistakes (some cities ahve been placed in the wrong spot and specific locations have been erased or ignored).

Amit Singhal, Google's vice-president has claimed that the new map "is foundational to delivering exactly what you want, when you want, and where you want it."

One important idea in the new map App is that Google's maps can hel people find places based on a geographical approach instead of using alphabetical names or quests.

Historically, map makers have promised that their maps are the best and most specific maps ever, however maps carry the view of the society in which it is created since they are made based on the beliefs and prejudices of their makers.

Examples of such maps can be found in history depending on the country, culture and the own perception of a nation the map makers have.

Perfection in maps is difficult to find since the concept of being "perfect" can vary but one important aspect is that maps should be useful and help people find what they need and find themselves in the world and this is Google's objective, creating a map that can maximize people´s time on the net.
However, when we talk about internet maps we must remember we are in a commercial concept since most people search for places in a world surrounded by ideas of selling, buying and advertising and Google should admit its approach is commercial rather that geographically pure.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/16/google-no-such-thing-as-perfect-map