Google Maps is such a great instrument to find lots of information about everything. But it can be much more: it’s a whole world that can give you the opportunity to discover new things: that’s how I have tried to make use of it. I really find it incredibly stunning how the system goes on thanks to the work of an invisible network of people that act on their own with the coordination of Google. That’s what I really love about Google Maps: the feeling of being a part of a community that collaborates in the direction of making the service as complete, detailed and useful as possible. Even giving a second of your time by clicking a Yes or No might help a person know if that restaurant is accessible to wheelchairs, making the difference in their daily life.
That’s how I started adding information on Google Maps; I’ve always used it as navigation service but every time an information of was missing, I felt the need to add it in order to help other people in the same situation. I generally like adding all kind of missing information, with no specific category of activity. I like answering to questions, adding new reviews and adding photos. But what I love the most is adding places that aren’t on the map. Fortunately, it’s really difficult to see a place that’s not on Google Maps, the service has a stunning high coverage, but when it happens, it’s a great satisfaction to help the owner of the activity by giving him visibility and the normal Google Maps user by helping him find the desired place. Talking about this, I think that giving the possibility to see how many people have seen the photo or the review is such a great way to make you realise how useful your little contribution can be: it’s definitely one of the things that give me motivation to go on adding information on Google Maps.
One more thing I like very much, is trying to make my city, Milan, look more attractive to tourists. In the last 10 years Milan has experienced a great evolution becoming every day an increasingly tourist destination: that’s why I try to help the great number of tourists coming to the city by adding all the information I can. In addition, I just discovered Google Connect, thanks to the Connect Live invitation: I didn’t know about it but I think it’s a great possibility to help people coming to Milan to discover new things. And obviously it’s a great way to discover new things about new places and new cultures, and even to get in touch with new people from all over the world.
In conclusion I want to say a huge “Thank You” to the Google Maps team: without their hard work put in keeping the system up and running, the network of local guides would not be able to give its help.
(All photos were taken by me).