Google Maps' True Value

Ever experienced going to a place but getting lost in the process? Frustrating, don”t you agree? It happens all the time and with so many people. It can't be helped. There is a big difference between knowing where to go and knowing how to go there. Sometimes, it just gets bad. That's where Google Maps come to the rescue.

Ever since it was launched last 2005, Google Maps have become the top choice for an interactive and accurate depiction of various locations around the world, especially in the United States. And the range of functions available in Google Maps is impressive.

First time in a place and you don't know what the nearest hotel looks like? Google Maps features a photo function displaying the location's image. Need direction to the nearest shopping mall? Google Maps can give you that. You like the place you've just visited but wanted to know more? Google Maps provides you the latest information and history straight from Wikipedia.org. You're driving a car and you want to see that you're going the right way? Google Maps have a StreetView that will show what the place looks like from the driver's point of view. They even have videos from Youtube.com that features these destinations.

Dur to the interactive nature of Google Maps, many users find it a fun and useful tool in gaining information on places they plan to go. And all the maps Google maintains are updated regularly so that only the latest information will be available for you. And since it's available online, you can always get a treasure of information wherever you are. As long as you have an internet connection, you will never be lost.

Of course, there are also some criticisms. First are issues of privacy. There a people who object to seeing their faces recorded in StreetView. Google responded, of course, and had the offending faces blurred by their software. Another was the depiction of actual military installations. For security purposes, Google has purposely blurred these locations, or an entirely different, neutral area was super-imposed on the original. There are also places that are termed “phantom sites,” like the town of Argleton. These are places that were named by Google Maps but do not exist at all. Google has later on made the necessary correction on the these addresses.

These issues have been resolved, thankfully. Despite these obvious blemishes, it appears that there is nothing that will stop Google Maps from doing what it does best – organizing places in the right way.