Elizabeth Laraki, the Google Maps UX Design Lead from 2007 to 2009, shared the story on X about how Google Maps was capable of overcome the road identify downside in India and develop into a dominant participant within the nation.
Laraki’s LinkedIn profile states that she led the worldwide design staff for Google Maps (throughout US, Australia, Switzerland, China, and India and labored on integrating map view for native outcomes, opinions, driving, transit, strolling instructions and extra.
Google Maps launched in India again in 2008 however the firm rapidly confronted an issue distinctive to India. As Laraki explains road names had been the inspiration of Google Maps however that rapidly grew to become an issue for the corporate in India.
Laraki says Google Maps instructions grew to become ‘just about ineffective’ in India with many streets not having names or having a number of names or not being identified by their official names.
Google Maps then had the choice of assuming that its present navigation system was adequate for India and it could get higher or individuals would possibly finally adapt to it however the firm as an alternative needed its product to thrive in a large potential market.
The answer:
Laraki notes that the corporate knew that many communities around the globe used landmarks fairly than road names for navigation, and this was additionally true in India.
What adopted was “nimble, on-the-ground subject analysis” to know how individuals in India use landmarks and what sorts of landmarks are good for navigation.
The Google Maps analysis revealed that Indians use landmarks in a number of key methods, together with
a) Orientation: for instance, ‘Head in direction of the water
b) Flip description: ‘Flip previous the purchasing centre’.
c) See if they’re on the correct path: ‘You will notice a petroleum pump on the correct’.
d) Error correction: ‘You will notice xxx place when you have gone too far’.
Google Maps then used parks, monuments, purchasing centres, landmark buildings and petrol pumps to assist individuals affirm their route and proper errors.
The modifications made by the Google Maps staff in 2009 helped the corporate develop into ‘the dominant navigation product for India’.
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Up to date: 02 Nov 2023, 12:25 PM IST
Supply: Live Mint