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Google Wants to Map Indoors, Too
An anonymous reader writes "Google maps are getting extended indoors next month with a new app called Micello that takes over where conventional navigators leave off — mapping your route inside of buildings, malls, convention centers and other points of interest. You don't get a 'you are here' blinking dot yet — but they do promise to add one next year using WiFi triangulation. At the introduction next month, Micello will only work in California, but they plan to expand to other major US cities during 2010."
but Google maps keeps directing me to the middle of the city.
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
Then I'll be impressed. And scared.
Just when I thought I could sleep under my desk...
http://www.red-bean.com/fitz/google/where-are-my-socks.html
They already know.
"Micello is quite literally Google maps for the insides of buildings," said Ankit Agarwal, founder and CEO of Micello. "We are mapping the last unchartered territory--the last mile--between the front door and where you are going."
Whoa. Big building.
Your brain is not a computer.
you will know when the google van crashes through your front door and starts mapping out your house.
The normal slashdot reader doesn't bother with the articles, so why should the editors waste their time on something that will never be checked?
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
Now when I'm navigating crowded stores, at least the people who can't be bothered to look up from their phone long enough to stay the hell out of everyone's way will know exactly where they are going.
Works for me.
People in Lower Alabama resent the way Californians just take LA for their own use.
"Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
Personally I don't trust Google at all anymore with their data retention policy and sheer size. Perhaps that's a little paranoia on my part but it's the way I feel.
Theme song from "Jaws"... a knock sounds at the door. A woman answers, "Yes?"
A muffled voice sounds from the other side of the door, "Mrs. Arlsbergerhh?"
"Who?"
Again the voice is muffled, "Mrs. Johnannesburrrr?"
"Who is it?"
"Flowers."
"Flowers? From whom?"
"Plumber, ma'am.."
"I don't need a plumber. You're that clever Google, aren't you?"
"Candygram."
"Candygram, my foot! Get out of here before I call the proper authorities. You're Google, and you know it."
"I'm only TomTom, ma'am.."
"TomTom? Well.. okay.."
You are in a nicely-appointed lobby that would not be out of place at an upscale accounting firm. There is a reception desk, some waiting chairs, and a stack of Wall Street Journals. Down the hall to the east, you hear sounds of flushing.
> GO TO BATHROOM
Here? In the lobby? You would certainly be escorted out by the grumpy security guard that just walked through.
> ASK GUARD FOR BATHROOM
He's gone already, but did not seem the conversational type. He walked down the hall to the east, opened a door, and went inside. You can hear a faucet running there.
> GO TO BATHROOM
Using what? The stack of Wall Street Journals? They are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled fibers, if you catch our drift. It would be unpleasant.
> GO EAST
You wander down the hallway, a little too frantic for a casual stroll, muttering "Follow that guard!" to yourself and giggling. You spy two doors, marked "Women" and "Men". The men's room door is open. You see a guard inside, eyeing the last sheet of toilet paper.
> GO TO BATHROOM
You're in the men's room already.
> GO TO BATHROOM IN BATHROOM
WIth what? Your bare hands?
> GO TO BATHROOM IN BATHROOM WITH TOILET PAPER
Splendid concept, that toilet paper. Changed the whole face of hygiene (and the other end too.) Sadly, the guard has highly-trained bathroom-guard reflexes, and snatches the last sheet before you can even blink. As he quivers with smug satisfaction, you notice a billfold in his pocket. It contains quite a bit of cash.
> ASK GUARD TWO FIVES FOR A TEN
Contrary to popular belief, California is not (yet) a major US city. There is at least seven feet of open space between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Not always.
I have no sense of direction. Here's an illustration - Back in my teens, my dad was driving and we were lost in the middle of nowhere in that maze of dirt roads that criscrosses the east Texas piney woods. We were looking for a shooting range where I was scheduled to participate in a pistol competition.
We pulled up to a T-intersection where we had to turn either left or right. My dad took his hands off the wheel, turned to me and asked "Which way should we go, son?"
"Well, dad, we've been through this intersection from a different direction before. I recognize it. I'm sure that if you turn right, we'll be headed the right way."
My dad didn't say a word. He just put his hands back on the wheel, pulled into the intersection, and turned left.
He knew, absolutely knew that whatever I told him was going to be wrong.
We arrived at the range in less than 5 minutes.
So, I'm not lazy. I've honestly tried to keep track of where I am. I've studied dead reckoning and orienteering. Back in the day, I kept a compass on my dashboard. None of it worked. I could still get lost in my own closet.
Today, I welcome any technology that helps me get where I want to go. Over the years I've gotten *really* good at reading and following maps so Google maps is enough for me. But before Google (and Mapquest before that), I was quite literally lost. I would never attribute a willingness to use technology to find my way to simple laziness. Some of us are just hopeless in this arena.