It’s a usual weekday. You’re getting ready for work when you suddenly realize that you’re late for an important meeting. You hop into your car and pause for a moment to check the fastest route to your workplace. You run the Google Maps app on your phone and presto! you’re shown a list of routes that you can take to avoid rush hour traffic. ETA 20 minutes. Your boss is delighted that you made it on time. and you heave a sigh of relief.
Fast forward a couple of hours. you’re hungry and you forgot to pack lunch for the day. You say “Hey Google, show me the best vegan places near me!” and yet again, Maps shows you a list of places within a mile of your office. The first option looks good but you decide to read the reviews before you go. To your horror, you find out that the place is known for their shoddy salads. Yikes. You browse through the numerous photos uploaded by other customers and you finally decide on a place that has great user reviews. Random strangers on the internet just saved you from an expensive visit to the doctor.
Work is done and you’re heading home. But before you go, you want to drop by the local florist to buy some flowers for your girlfriend. But you’re not sure if they’ll be open at this hour. You pop your phone open again and say" Ok Google, is Floral Boutique open at this time?" Google says, " Floral Boutique is open now". Google Maps saves the day yet again. This is just an example of how Google Maps has revolutionized an average day in the life of a person. In today’s age, where the number of internet users is rising exponentially, Google Maps has become a very important tool in enabling people to plan their activities better, choose the best of services, and get crucial information about small businesses that are usually difficult to find online. It’s amazing to know that all this is possible due to contributions from active members who strive to make Maps better. It is this inclusive aspect of Maps that I love. I love sharing my experiences about a place through reviews and photos, fill in missing pieces of information (such as store timings) and correct any inaccuracies in routes that I frequent. I believe that even if one person benefits from my contribution, my work is fruitful.
