Photo: reddit user gatorsya
Google Maps may be the world’s number one navigation app, but all the improvements it has received lately have turned it into so much more.
That is why Google Maps can now be used not only to get from point A to point B more efficiently, but to also explore certain locations across the world, access healthcare information, find data about shops and restaurants, and get transit details in some of the largest cities across the world.
But some users living in Austin, Texas have also come across a feature that’s been around for a while but rarely shows up in Google Maps. It’s a shooting warning that’s displayed on the map, with Google Maps specifically pointing to the location where it’s all happening in an attempt to keep everyone safe.
The recent Austin shooting that left three people dead quickly triggered emergency alerts on Google Maps, as seen in this photo posted on reddit shortly after the incident.
While this feature made its debut in Google Maps back in 2018, it actually signals a bigger problem and shows just how the world of technology responds to issues that should eventually be addressed in a different manner.
While we’re not here to talk about America’s gun violence, users needing Google Maps warnings to keep them safe because of mass shootings is something which at the end of the day, proves not only that technology can be literally a life-saving weapon but also that we’ve reached a point where gun violence has gotten out of control.
In the meantime, there’s more good news on the Google Maps front, as the Mountain View-based search is working on several big new features for the app, including a new routing model based on fuel efficiency. In other words, Google Maps no longer suggests the fastest route to a specific destination but the most fuel-efficient alternative.
But some users living in Austin, Texas have also come across a feature that’s been around for a while but rarely shows up in Google Maps. It’s a shooting warning that’s displayed on the map, with Google Maps specifically pointing to the location where it’s all happening in an attempt to keep everyone safe.
The recent Austin shooting that left three people dead quickly triggered emergency alerts on Google Maps, as seen in this photo posted on reddit shortly after the incident.
While this feature made its debut in Google Maps back in 2018, it actually signals a bigger problem and shows just how the world of technology responds to issues that should eventually be addressed in a different manner.
While we’re not here to talk about America’s gun violence, users needing Google Maps warnings to keep them safe because of mass shootings is something which at the end of the day, proves not only that technology can be literally a life-saving weapon but also that we’ve reached a point where gun violence has gotten out of control.
In the meantime, there’s more good news on the Google Maps front, as the Mountain View-based search is working on several big new features for the app, including a new routing model based on fuel efficiency. In other words, Google Maps no longer suggests the fastest route to a specific destination but the most fuel-efficient alternative.
Google News