How does the "new idea" transform into the "new feature"?

Google Maps tips & tricks
1

Hello LGs!

This is Kurt, a level 4 local guide based in Los Angeles, and also an ethnographer of this lovely community (Yeah, I am working on a journal article about our warmhearted LGs). I have recently noticed tha LGs are not merely adding photos, sharing reviews, or check facts, but also “create” new features on the App. To give you an example, Google has released its beta version of “Review questions” onto Maps in 2019 (as introduced in https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Highlights/Making-it-easier-to-share-helpful-information-in-your-reviews-on/ba-p/3092035). As an user in U.S (hopefully it could be used everywhere), I have tried it several times, which makes my review really smooth and comprehensive.

KurtzDeng_0-1677822910776.png
KurtzDeng_0-1677822910776.png834×776 33.1 KB

#Caption: How the “review question” feature looks like on my website.

I think this new feature can be largely attributed to @AdrianLunsong 's wonderful template: FAACTS :sunglasses: , an excellent format to make reliable, detailed and authentic review of places (SEE FAACTS in https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Easy-tips-for-rating-venues-and-writing-structured-reviews/td-p/1933656).

I know there is a subfield in the Connect named “The Idea Echange”, where local guides can submit their proposals for voting, and I think this logically gives birth to new features on Map.

Do you know any other examples where local guides’ great ideas become new features on the Maps? It can be a question of egg & chicken, but I really want to know which one firstly comes (1) guides start to contribute information about accessbility of places, (2) Google Maps allow users to label “wheelchair ramp” on the Maps. I think the share of successful cases can mobilize more LGs to brainstorm and utilize their creativity to bring a better world…

A naive Local Guide,

Kurt

7 Likes
2

@KurtzDeng In general Google (or any other companies, I would think) would take all feedback, and would prioritize working on a idea if it’s plausible and receives critical mass. Also depends on the urgency and function. There more an idea is requested, the better chance it can happen. I know there have been a few popular ideas in the past that come to realization, so hopefully we’ll hear a few from others. It can also be something that the team has already been working on something, then someone else suggested it, basically confirming the idea. I also remember during the yearly conference Local Guides Connect, when we still have them, the Local Guides team would do focus groups asking feedback from the attendees for ideas.

Just FYI though, Idea Feedback board has been sunset back in January. The team is still looking for feedback and the best way to do it is to post them in the How To board below

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/bd-p/localguide/label-name/How-tos

Just curious, when you said you’re working on a journal article, is it for a specific publication? Mind sharing more details?

2 Likes
3

@iyudhi Thank you for your reply! I will check that board!

Sure, I am really glad to share what I am doing. I am a graduate student at University of Southern California, and most of my research circles around the interplay between technology, society, and culture.

I am now enrolled in Professor Manuel Castells’ research seminar, a really lovely and smart Spanish sociologist. The theme of our research seminar is called “alternative economic cultures” - can be confusing at the first glance. But it wants to analyze something really simple: if most of economic behaviors (economic behaviors can be really versatile, e.g. production, consumption, and also exchange of goods, information or knowledge) in our capitalist societies are largely motivated by the accumulation of capital, power, and fame (I am regretted to say this can be a cruel truth :money_mouth_face: ), can we find some alternative people and cultures?

Actually, there are a lot of alternative economic cultures in the world (such as volunteers, researchers…), and I find one here: that’s to share geographical knowledge not for self-interest (I know we have perks, but money is not the main drive), but for passion, togetherness, creation, and care (it is my hypothesis).

People might think this is self-evident, but what I want to say is that the case of LGs can be really distinctive and inspiring——usually we think volunteer works should be organized by NGOs, grassroot organizations, or governments, but what LGs do is coordinated by a business company…Imagine a world that all digital platforms and tech giants are sparing their capital and time to help bring societal goods :relieved: . By researching, I think I am also sharing knowledge and helping our creation of a better world.

So in a nutshell, I am researching the ethics and spirit of LGs… (I will try my best to be reflexive and objective, though it is really hard, as nobody can be perfectly unbiased :disappointed_relieved: ). Hopefully, I can publicize it, maybe on journals like Data & Society.

1 Like
4

@KurtzDeng

Why are you focussing on changes implemented after input from Maps Users? I’m asking mainly because I think the examples are very very few, or non-existing.

Maybe other questions would be as relevant when studying the economic behaviors of Local Guides.

Why are there 150.000.000+ volunteers on Google Maps?

What motivates us?

Are we really motivated by the symbolic points and views?

How come quantitative contribution stats are perceived as a reward?

Is helping Maps users, businesses, and society the real motivation?

What kind of kick do we get when seeing our own photos and contributions on Google Maps?

Can the motivational emails from Google Maps be improved?

Being a Local Guide is a nerdy hobby with very little interaction with other people. Could it be that contributing to Google Maps is a perfect activity for introverts and people with depression?

Best of luck with your course and paper. Make sure to share and tag us when it becomes available.

Cheers

Morten

1 Like
5

@MortenCopenhagen

Thank you for your points and so many valuable ideas —— my appreciation cannot be overstated.

Actually, this question is based on my observation: I think we all agree that adding photos, sharing reviews, and checking facts are economic actions (which bring financial benefits as well as societal good—people can now make more informed decisions), but all these actions are programmed by the company (Googlers tell LGs that we can and should do in this way). I want to know if agency and creativity matters here - I know a lot of tentative projects proposed by LGs, such as Waste Report, Local Business Support, #Local Guide Clean The Map, and Underwater Mapping in Siri Lanka. Maybe not all proposals are actionable, but I want to know whether it is true or not that local guides are not merely volunteers, hobbyists and thinkers, but also “hackers”. By “hacker”, I am not referring to those evil genius who conduct cyber attacks here, but creators of better technologies (or better ways to use technology) and better society through hard working, burning passion and combining knowledge and skills in the community. I only know that LGs are thoughtful, but whether thoughts have been transformed into “features”——I KNOW little about this (LG program has a long history :nerd_face: ). To know ‘whether great ideas can be transformed into new features’ can tell me a lot of things.

Regarding other great questions you have come up with, I want to say: yeah, you are right! These are all really interesting and important fields to explore, and I am literally searching answers for these questions. I think Google Moderators and Connect Moderators both do a really good job in merging similar posts under one thread and they literally help me acquire enough data to analyze. Such as this one, Why be a Local Guide?: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Help-Desk/Why-be-a-Local-Guide/ba-p/867121#comments, where I collect hundreds of posts regarding the motivations of being a local guide.

Also these two,

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Can-I-earn-money-from-being-a-Local-Guide/m-p/190400 (A 87-page-long post…) and @ErmesT 's cautionary tale (somehow dysutopian): G€t Paid for Our Contribution$? What could happen , where I know more about the money ethic of LGs (what money means here). I don’t think LGs are nerdic, though I think meet-ups are supposed to be held globally and more frequently. In addition, motivation emails are really interesting mechanisms., and I receive plenty of them!I also have a lovely conversation with @Gezendunyali ,and we discuss a lot over these issues. I am really grateful for his precious ideas, and wish he and his loved ones can take care of themselves and return to the normal life as soon as possible…

I am still observing, pariticipating in activities, and researching. It would be a long journey, but I will try my best to be an indepedent, critical, but objective thinker and writer.

Cheer,
Kurt Deng

2 Likes
6

@KurtzDeng

I’m happy to see that your focus is not only on changes that got implemented programmatically into Google Maps, but also focus on alternative uses and campaigns/projects building on Google Maps as a tool utilizing existing features in Google Maps.

Cheers

Morten

7

Thanks for your kind comment @KurtzDeng :pray:t2:

8

Thanks @KurtzDeng for using my situation as an example although I’m not sure whether what I did gave birth to the new feature or not; it was definitely something that was brought up at Connect Live events quite often and in lack of the actual feature/implementation, I just decided to share what I used to provide some sort of structure to a review.

Also, I think that you’re already very well aware of the various social projects that the Local Guides community are pursuing themselves which are way more worthy of a mention because of the greater impact they have had on the local communities! It certainly sounds like an interesting project/research that you’re doing and I wish you all the very best! :blush:

1 Like
9

@AdrianLunsong Thank you for your kindly explanation! The work is ongoing and I appreciate all your valuable comments.

I know little about what will happen during the connect live events (I think they are different from self-organized meetups?) Are all attendents invited by Google? Is it normally a event for connection, celebration,or discussion? Or is it just a big party or fair for LGs? I hope I got the chance to attend one in the future…

In addition, I think it is important to look at the “mapping” of other LGs, who choose not to create, but to share… It is a big community, and I respect every kind of Local Guide. :smile:

1 Like
10

@KurtzDeng Pre COVID, the Google Local Guides team organised an annual summit where they flew a small group of Local Guides from all over the world to Google’s Mountain View offices for a face to face, multi-day event, primarily (in my opinion anyway) as a way to gather feedback, take part in brainstorming sessions and secondarily as a thank you gesture to the chosen few. It’s an event that most, if not all, Local Guides look forward to as it’s an honour/privilege to get chosen to attend.

And certainly, it’s such an amazing experience of meeting other Local Guides who are passionate about what they do! The buzz is crazy and everyone is sharing tips and experiences and really going all out to help make the Google Maps experience better!

You can watch the 2019 recap video here for a glimpse of what it is like. Unfortunately, travel issues caused by COVID meant that we haven’t had a similar event since. However, the Local Guides team have introduced the Guiding Stars award in 2020 as a way to continue to recognise outstanding Local Guides. :blush:

11

I got a message from you, but I couldn’t read the full message. You sent it last month, I’m just now seeing it.

1 Like
12

@shelened1973

Please tag the person you are responding to. And please elaborate on what kind of help you hope to get - if any.

Cheers

Morten

1 Like
13

@shelened1973

Hi! I am so sorry that I miss you reply.

Yeah, I have been writing a private message to you several weeks ago, because you post a thread “I need get perks…”, and I was writing if there is any chance for me to have an informal interview with you to talk about you idea about being a local guide…

If I get the honor to work with you, please dm or contact via my email:[REDACTED]

14

Hi @KurtzDeng ,

Please note that your personal information has been removed from this post. We strive to protect yours and other Local Guides’ privacy and safety. If you wish to contact someone you can use a private message.

Please take a moment to review our community policy and check these useful tips on using this community before posting.