In May, Google revealed the new Google Maps interface. Currently, it is in its testing phase, and no firm release data has been set. A few of us in our St. Augustine office started using it and instantly noticed graphical improvements to the system. There are some fantastic new visualization features, including tilt view and additional photo streams. However, some ease of use issues may make this version more cumbersome for research. We used Flagler College as a comparison point for differences between the new and current Google Maps.
Viewing Locations is a
Snap
Now
that the giant sidebar is gone, it’s simply easier to view the map. The integration
of the photo carousel allows you to quickly view the physical appearance of the
location of interest. The compass and tilt view are great for changing the
perspective of the map to fit your needs. The tilted and rotated screenshot
above features Flagler College in the lower-center of the map while looking east
towards Anastasia Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Although the 3D graphics do not always properly render, it can give you a good
perspective if you’re trying to learn the lay of the land.
In
the current version of Google Maps, a static bubble pops out of the pin when
you click on a location of interest. It has a clearly defined place to click
for “more info,” which takes you to the location’s Google Plus page. However,
in the new Google Maps, it is not that simple. The information appears in the
upper left hand corner of the page in a collapsing drop down. In order to see
this information, you have to keep your cursor over it. In addition, the
clearly defined “more info” link is missing; instead, the user must click on
the reviews to be taken to Google Plus.
Location Mapping in Earth
View is a Bit Wonky
As recently mentioned in Slate, Google’s idea to plot
locations on maps based upon users’ preferences and history could prove to be
problematic, especially for researchers. Personalized data can exclude items
which may not seem relevant to our personal interests even though we may need a
complete data set for area mapping and analytics.
In
map view, both the new and current Google Maps show comparable sized data sets
and matching data points. However, when we move into Earth view in the new
version and satellite view in the current version, we begin to see differences
in data. The current satellite view provides more data points on the map, while
the new Earth view shows only selective locations. It is hard to tell if this
is a symptom of personalized data or a glitch in Earth view.
Conclusion
Without
knowing all of the changes Google will make to the new maps system before it is
released, it is hard to know how many of these functionality issues may impact
our work in the future. Additionally, it is difficult to predict future changes
in Google Maps based upon changes in the business environment, as social
companies are constantly outmaneuvering one another through acquisition and
development. Google’s recent acquisition of Waze could further impact
direction and travel features added to new Google Maps, which is why we did not
include those features in our discussion. Between the acquisition and feedback
being provided to Google during the testing phase, we could see many changes to
new Google Maps before it is finalized.
Although
we will not know the full impact of the changes to Google Maps until it is
released, accessing tools during the testing phase keeps us ahead of the curve by
anticipating how changes in technology may impact our future research
practices. By providing feedback during the preview process, it allows us to shape
the development of these tools for easier and expanded use by analysts. If
you’re interested in testing out the new Google Maps, click here for an invite and more
information about the tool.
