Google Maps and Google Earth have now received two updates in 2012. The updates are to better render buildings and tall objects, so the maps will be more realistic and more usable. Google has also developed a new piece of software for faster and better rendering of maps inside a web browser. Google is not alone. Apple and Microsoft are also active players in the reality-simulating ecosystem.
Mapping is also not limited to outdoor environments. Microsoft’s Bing was first but now Google Maps has overtaken indoor mapping and there are swarms of young adults with camera-mounted backpacks mapping more and more environments. There are other advancements being made, all in an effort to make navigation easier and more efficient.
What is missing, for now, is the shopping component. Most maps will point to a business location on the map, but that is the extent of the interaction. That will change in the near future. The digital marketing company needs to make sure they are on the cusp of this coming revolution. Some day, possibly soon, a user will be able to hold up a smartphone and see what is seen on the display but overlaid will be search functions for types of businesses as well as an ability to immediately make purchases from that interface.
The creative limit to these reality augmentations seems endless, and the most effective applications have probably not even been thought up yet. Note the effectiveness and the controversy caused by Amazon’s app that allows a user to photograph an item in a store and then purchase it more cheaply from Amazon at that moment. This will be the next revolution in mobile commerce and digital agencies need to make sure they are on the wave of the change instead of left behind by its competitors.
Tags: Google · Google Earth · Google MapsNo Comments
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