Technology content trusted by users in Australia and around the world.
5,013 Articles | 30,497 Posts
Select Your Edition:  
Tweakipedia
A wealth of
tech information!

AU EditionYou are located: Home > All News > Apps News > Google launches an Android app to help improve indoor accuracy of maps

Google launches an Android app to help improve indoor accuracy of maps

By: (more) | Apps News | Posted: Apr 6, 2012 4:31 pm

Google, Bing, and many other start up mapping companies have offered indoor maps for a while now. But these maps suffer from some issues that outdoor maps don't: accuracy. When outdoors, a user's GPS is remarkably accurate and if that fails, a user can use cell tower triangulation to at least get close.

 

google_launches_an_android_app_to_help_improve_indoor_accuracy_of_maps

 

Inside, however, GPS doesn't work very well and cell tower triangulation isn't accurate enough for the smaller scale that is indoors. Also, neither of these technologies are able to accurately tell you which floor you are on when inside a massive venue such as an airport. This is a key detail so that Google knows which floor's map to show you.

 

Google has a solution now, though. They have uploaded an Android app that will allow a venue owner who has uploaded maps of the venue to walk around with that app. The app will collect data such as WiFi access points as well as data about nearby cell towers to be able to later use this information to better locate a user inside.

 

google_launches_an_android_app_to_help_improve_indoor_accuracy_of_maps

 

It's sad to see that Google is only offering this to venue owners and those who have uploaded maps. Imagine having maps for almost every indoor venue around. It's something that is possible with crowdsourcing. Think about how many people are always in these commercial spaces. A free army of volunteers would have everything mapped in a matter of weeks.


SOURCE #1

Related Tags



News Gallery

Further Reading: Read and find more Apps news at our Apps news index page.

TweakTown News RSS FeedDo you get our news RSS feed? Get It! Got a news tip? Tell Us!

Post a Comment about this news



Check out our
RSS feeds!


Apps News Posts

View More Apps News Posts


TweakTown Web Poll

Question: Now you have the facts, which is your next-gen gaming console?

Microsoft Xbox One

Sony PlayStation 4

I'm a PC gamer, or not interested, or buying something else

or View the Results

View More Polls

Forum Activity

View More Forum Posts

Apps Press Releases

View More Apps Press Releases