Summary

With its simple, intuitive interface combined with Google’s powerful search capabilities, Google Maps has made the mundane and cumbersome details of getting from point A to point B, or finding a decent place to eat at 3 a.m. fast, efficient, and fun. The ability to click and drag around the field of view and zoom in and out with the flick of the scroll wheel provides a refreshing update to one of oldest navigational tools. The speed at which a destination can be located, a route plotted, and that information sent to your mobile device is almost dizzying, but hours can be lost idly playing with the tools and switching back and forth to hybrid and aerial views because it’s so simple yet engaging.

Despite the ease of getting your business information to appear on Google Maps, it is probably unnecessary, as Google’s search technology has undoubtedly already included it, waiting for you to add your unique marketing flourish. But even with all this power at your fingertips, developers are constantly striving to add another degree of utility to this tool suite.

Switching to the Satellite view can give some notion of terrain, and overlaying a route or location icon adds a sense that you are navigating a real space. Drop shadows on the DOT icons and information balloons enhance this effect. But ultimately, you are still manipulating static two-dimensional images. While it might not be more practical, wouldn’t it be a bit more fun to explore the planet in three dimensions? Why can’t Google render buildings as they rise above the landscape instead of just flat 2-D aerial views? See how Google has addressed this question in the next chapter.