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Google Will Tell You How Crowded Places Are In Real Time (pcmag.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the holiday-shopping dept.

Google is updating their "Popular Times" feature in Search and Maps with real-time data that will be able to tell you how busy a place is in real time. PC Magazine reports: "Just in time for the Black Friday swarms, we're adding a real-time look at how crowded a place is right now, to help you decide where and when to go," Google Product Manager Jamie Aspinall wrote in a blog post. "Whether you're rushing to pick up a last-minute gift or seeking a lively bar for some festive spirit, check Popular Times for a sneak preview of what to expect when you arrive." If you're one of those people who always needs a plan, you're going to love the next new feature. You can now see how long people typically stay at a given location, so you can "plan your itinerary to the minute." "After all, you want to be sure you leave enough time to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at your local sweets shop before heading to your dinner reservations," Aspinall pointed out. In addition, Google will be able to deliver more accurate business hours for your favorite establishments. "You'll know what time to pop by the pharmacy..., when food delivery begins at a nearby restaurant..., and what the service hours are at the auto dealership," Aspinall wrote.

64 comments

  1. Brought to you by excessive tracking by NotInHere · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm just waiting for the first reports of people getting ads for baby clothing before they even know they are pregnant.

    1. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by beelsebob · · Score: 2

      http://www.businessinsider.com...

    2. Re: Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For a long time, wedding registries (sears, macys, etc) have served for that. But it's true that now Google and others could make certain predictions based on changes to behavioral patterns. At very least, they will get the hint when someone searches for "pregnancy tests" and then connect the dots. New parents have great baskets that fill up continuously for years to come!

    3. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and that's why I'm glad to still have & use my old flip phone.

    4. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who cares? Think of all the seconds I'll save waiting in lines!

    5. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by Cryacin · · Score: 1

      Wonder how long it will take for someone to implement a "rent a crowd" service to boost popularity of a location. This time it's First Life rather than Second.

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    6. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      In that case the girl already knew she was pregnant. But it would be interesting if a computer could tell you were pregnant based on changing habits even before the person themselves was aware. Perhaps by using a smart watch or fitness band looking at changing sleep schedules, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, or other changes in habits could reveal information that nobody was aware of .

      Also, does anybody think it's kind of creepy that they were tracking and processing the data is such a way that could figure out such personal information about a person. I find it funny that the dad apologized, because even if his daughter was pregnant, the fact that they were tracking so much data on a minor (I assume) just makes me cringe. Makes me wonder if I should just always buy in cash.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    7. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The meme you're so wrongly reposting was never true.

      The girl new she was pregnant, her father didn't cause she hadn't told him.

      That whole 'buying a pregnancy test' followed by 'buying folic acid' makes it pretty fucking easy to determine reliably when someone is pregnant, just FYI. 'Excessive' tracking is unneeded, simple purchase history is plenty.

      --BitZtream

    8. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by jafiwam · · Score: 1

      Wonder how long it will take for someone to implement a "rent a crowd" service to boost popularity of a location. This time it's First Life rather than Second.

      This is Slashdot.

      Knowing where the crowds are will be used to know the places to AVOID.

    9. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by tsqr · · Score: 1

      Wonder how long it will take for someone to implement a "rent a crowd" service to boost popularity of a location. This time it's First Life rather than Second.

      This is Slashdot.

      Knowing where the crowds are will be used to know the places to AVOID.

      Indeed. As Yogi Berra said, "Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded.

    10. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by guruevi · · Score: 1

      It's called coupons. There are plenty of people willing to come to a place for 'free' beer or other low cost things. Just advertise on Facebook you are selling tickets at 20% of the street value, you'll have an instant 500 people there.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    11. Re:Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'll make you a deal on my Kanye tickets.

    12. Re: Brought to you by excessive tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And what happened to the kid? That kid is what 4 or 5 now, hearing about how his or her existence was known by Target before the grandfather knew... ackward. I guess that kid will grow up calling Target "grandpa Target".

  2. Um, you're late to the party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiDt8yP-b3QAhUJ4SYKHZrvDbEQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fkashmirhill%2F2012%2F02%2F16%2Fhow-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did%2F&usg=AFQjCNHg9l-VG6NbhXVdv5BQ0lZWcKe__A&sig2=vtrq3srCbCPfIfYd-EWwpQ

    1. Re: Um, you're late to the party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Famously apocryphal story I'm afraid

  3. Great feature! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Both terrorists and government will find it very useful.

    I hate humans.

    1. Re: Great feature! by nsuccorso · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, I've heard that Earth Girls Are Easy.

    2. Re:Great feature! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Both terrorists and government will find it very useful.

      So, like guns.

    3. Re:Great feature! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do we always have to offload our paranoia onto governments? What the hell has Google ever done to prove it can be trusted with this kind of information?

    4. Re:Great feature! by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

      You seriously think there are terrorists out there all set with their bomb thinking "Hm, now where in the world can I find people? Darn, there's no way to figure out where a crowd might currently exist so I'll have to cancel the attack."

      --
      This space intentionally left blank
    5. Re:Great feature! by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      You seriously think there are terrorists out there all set with their bomb thinking "Hm, now where in the world can I find people? Darn, there's no way to figure out where a crowd might currently exist so I'll have to cancel the attack."

      On slashdot you are allowed simultaneously to be paranoid about governments stopping terrorism and governments not stopping terrorism.

      Depending on the day of the week, terrorists are either an excuse for governments to have surveillance, or an existential threat to civilisation.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  4. Makes Planning Trips to the Mall a Breeze! by nsuccorso · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's see, 15 minutes to enjoy a macchiato at the coffee shop, 3 hours desperately searching for items that are never stocked locally and must be ordered online, 10 minutes in one of those crap coin-operated massage chairs, and then YUP! Google says the food court should have cleared out enough to give me a running start at flinging myself to a merciful death from the 3rd story balcony.

  5. Works for California DMV offices by mspohr · · Score: 1

    A few months ago I needed to go to the local DMV and used Google to look up their hours. It gave me a nice chart showing wait times for each day of the week and time of day.

    --
    I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    1. Re:Works for California DMV offices by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      I just clicked on a local store in maps and got a bar graph for any day of the week plus the real time congestion highlighted... nice. I know they know where my phone is, I'm over that as there really is no option that does not involve making my own hermitage...

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    2. Re:Works for California DMV offices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Flip phones are still a thing, you know. Granted I haven't done the research, but I doubt Brew has a tenth the privacy rapeage as iOS or Android.

      (And non-tech-dependents don't need an app to tell them that all the stores will be crowded at 6 pm and empty at 10 am.)

    3. Re:Works for California DMV offices by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

      Smartphones that don't have GPS are also a thing. None of my smartphones have ever had GPS.

      --
      This space intentionally left blank
    4. Re:Works for California DMV offices by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      They can still tell your position using other information. My kids don't have GPS on their iPod Touch devices, but they can still play Pokemon Go. It approximates their position using WiFi signals. It can guess the distance you are from known WiFi routers based on signal strength and triangulate your position using distances from multiple routers. It's surprisingly accurate. Gets your location within about 50 feet.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    5. Re:Works for California DMV offices by Terwin · · Score: 1

      Smartphones that don't have GPS are also a thing. None of my smartphones have ever had GPS.

      If you connect to their network, they have a pretty good idea where you are, especially if you are moving.

    6. Re:Works for California DMV offices by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Smartphones that don't have GPS are also a thing. None of my smartphones have ever had GPS.

      If you connect to their network, they have a pretty good idea where you are, especially if you are moving.

      Next thing you know, some of these people will figure out just how the cellular system works.

      It isn't specifically designed to track us, but it has to know where we are. Even on a flip phone.

      Obligatory Florida Man story http://www.techtimes.com/artic...

      They just tracked him using the cell phone towers.

      I'm seeing Slashdot Man conundrums with a cell phone jammer on a drone.

      They approve of the jammer, but they have to shoot down the drone.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    7. Re:Works for California DMV offices by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Yes, but that's aggregated and averaged data. They're now giving you a live view into the same data, basically, they are setting up a view on the current ingress of data.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    8. Re:Works for California DMV offices by gnick · · Score: 1

      None of my smartphones have ever had GPS.

      That seems like a pretty big sacrifice. I rely on my smartphone to get me places fairly regularly and it beats the hell out of a paper map. Once upon a time, people would actually buy devices that did nothing but GPS mapping.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    9. Re:Works for California DMV offices by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      it beats the hell out of a paper map.

      A couple of years ago, I might have agreed.

      Now? I don't know.... I like the paper map for the same reasons as the paper book. You can reference it, set it down and come right back to it. There are also useful things like address breaks and elevation on a paper map that I have never seen on my phone's map.

      Also, the map is way superior when it comes to viewing the whole picture. On my phone, I can only ever see a detailed view OR the full view, not both at the same time.

      Phone map can be convenient, especially for turn-by-turn navigation. But for just basic map use (like when planning a trip), I still prefer the paper map.

      Also, a paper map doesn't require batteries :)

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  6. Also tracks protests! by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 0

    I'm sure cops will love this feature because they'll be able to use it to track groups of protesters anywhere. Naturally, they'll say they're doing something perfectly innocent like tracking potential gang members in the streets.

    Honestly, I find it increasingly difficult to excuse people for using "smartphones" because they spy on everyone constantly.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:Also tracks protests! by ShooterNeo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They also spy on the police. Only reason there's such an uproar over routine wrongful police shootings (aka shootings the police have gotten away with committing for decades since generally the courts believe anything the officer says) is because of the ubiquitous cameras.

      Also, members of the black community would have had personal experience with wrongful police actions - that is why they would generally not hate on and not cooperate with the police. Now the more liberal members of the white community have joined in on the action because with the camera recordings it is obvious which side is correct.

    2. Re:Also tracks protests! by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 0, Troll

      A telling reaction, eh? Immediately assume the worst, and project your pre-existing biases on the situation. Let me guess, you were recently waving around the Mexican flag and chanting, "Trump is not my President." Well you're right you know, your president is named Enrique Pena Nieto.

      It's kind of the whole idea behind a protest that it's a public event. How else are people going to find it to attend? How else is the media going to cover it and only cover the peaceful part, leaving out the property destruction and hate crimes? Left unsaid, of course, is the idea that the entire howling mob could just "go dark" by turning their phones off or putting them in metallic potato chip bags.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    3. Re:Also tracks protests! by lxs · · Score: 1

      So in one sentence you complain about projecting pre-existing biases, and in the next you start making wild guesses based on stereotypes.

      Here's some items you might find useful.

    4. Re:Also tracks protests! by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      "I'm sure cops will love this feature because they'll be able to use it to track groups of protesters anywhere."

      And protesters will hate it not su much because of the idea of being tracked, but because now the press will be able to fact-check their ludicrously inflated crowd numbers.

    5. Re:Also tracks protests! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      on the action because with the camera recordings it is obvious which side is correct.

      Yea, and sometimes they still riot anyway, regardless of what the camera shows ... don't they.

      Stop pretending this is a one sided deal and black people are 100% right and cops are 100% wrong.

      I detest most cops as they are power hungry assholes, but out of all this bullshit thats happened over the last year since Ferguson, I've seen exactly 2 police shootings that were clearly wrong ... and one of them was white guy, so just shut the fuck up about how clear and obvious it is. Its only clear and obvious if you've turned off your brain.

      You pretend that seeing 3 seconds of a clip and ignoring EVERYTHING else makes you right. While I'm all for you getting what you deserve, I for one would like to have some sort of police protection instead of the anarchy that follows after people like you with the attention span so short it makes a gnat seem like a mental giant end up fucking us over.

    6. Re:Also tracks protests! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      I find it increasingly difficult to excuse people for using "smartphones" because they spy on everyone constantly.

      But you are okay with cellphone tracking? It's kind of impossible to avoid, being the basis upon which the system works.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    7. Re:Also tracks protests! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, members of the black community would have had personal experience with wrongful police actions...

      There are problems with the police and with racism in this country (and pretty much planet-wide I'm guessing,) but not every "member of the black community" has been abused and not every "member of the black community" routinely refuses to help police. "Members of the white community" do not "obviously" see that the police are somehow universally on the wrong side because of a set of videos. "Members of the human community" condemn specific acts.

      As a side note, is there something wrong with saying "black people" and "white people"?

  7. Finally by dohzer · · Score: 2

    Now I can reliably plan when and where to dump the bodies.

    1. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tobias Rieper, is that you?

  8. Everywhere? by sheramil · · Score: 1

    This only applies to important places, like New York, right? It won't tell me how badly the traffic is banked up down the Frankston/Dandenong road in Melbourne of a morning.

    1. Re:Everywhere? by Namarrgon · · Score: 3, Informative

      Sure it will. Note the Live/Typical traffic box at the bottom.

      --
      Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
  9. Venn Diagram: "Read Slashdot" and "Shop At Malls" by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    Based on experience, I'd say a Venn diagram of people who read Slashdot and people who still shop at malls would have a very small overlap zone.

  10. Just changed the privacy right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They've further reduced the privacy right too recently with another compulsory* change of terms.

    * Compulsary in that you either agree, or you uninstall every app you installed from Google play and close your account, even for non-Google apps. Losing all your data in the process.

    But that's OK, Trump won't abuse PRISM, he's not the sort of person who would take power against the wishes of the electorate with the help for hackers for a foreign country. So he can be trusted not to spy on Americans.

  11. Re:Venn Diagram: "Read Slashdot" and "Shop At Mall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can always spot the Slashdot reader at the mall, because he's the 300 pound unkempt unwashed man who carries an antique laptop in a trash bag and spends all day at the food court using the free Wi-Fi.

  12. Bubbles ... by evanh · · Score: 1

    Hey, lets binge on positive feedback loops!

  13. It's a little more mundane than that by Solandri · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They're just counting the number of Android phones which are in a location at any give time. Same as how they do their traffic monitoring, except they don't have to worry about how fast the phones are moving.

    1. Re: It's a little more mundane than that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So the Apple store and every indie record shop will perpetually appear to be closed in Google maps now?

    2. Re: It's a little more mundane than that by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      I was thinking the same thing.

      The thing is, I have rarely found the traffic alerts to be all that useful. I mean, duh, there is heavy traffic in heavy traffic routes.... I didn't need my phone to tell me that.

      There are just too many people. Everywhere you go it is going to be crowded... it's a "fish in the barrel" prediction on Google's part...

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  14. I just queried your mom. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I got bad news..

  15. I just threw up in my mouth...alot a bit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    #lostmybusiness

  16. Selection Bias ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey, cool. I see that the Apple Store is completely empty!

  17. for some special values of "real time" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > now see how long people typically stay
    Not my definition of real time

  18. Google's accuracy is 60 miles by thesjaakspoiler · · Score: 1

    ... so this is an utter worthless feature. Last year a marketing agency did a large scale survey to verify how accurate Google knows where your phone is. It turned out that the average accuracy was 60 miles off. Google's technology really isn't that good unless you actively opt in with their Maps services.

    1. Re:Google's accuracy is 60 miles by jafiwam · · Score: 1

      ... so this is an utter worthless feature. Last year a marketing agency did a large scale survey to verify how accurate Google knows where your phone is. It turned out that the average accuracy was 60 miles off. Google's technology really isn't that good unless you actively opt in with their Maps services.

      YOUR phone sure. Individual.

      Phones in general... well they have a good handle on that. Traffic is already tracked by phones, and most of them are not using some map app at the time.

      It's an easy step to get to noting how many phones are in a mall.

  19. But can they tell me how to get there? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    Now if only their map data were vaguely close to correct.

    Which OSM client has the best turn-by-turn again?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  20. Useful for muslim suicide bombers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry - 'terrorists'.

    1. Re:Useful for muslim suicide bombers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry - "misunderstood followers of the bastard son of Abraham Ishmael, and the false prophet Muhammad."

  21. App only by thecatt · · Score: 1

    Looks like for maps at least this is only for the phone app so far. The google maps website still doesn't show the Live or Plan your visit sections. The search website just updated to include it, however.

  22. Bidding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How long before companies apply pressure to have their 'weighting' changed to make them look less or more busy? It could also be a pay-for service to skew towards any given outcome.

  23. Optimal time for mass murder? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now you know the best time to go on your shooting spree or detonate that vest...

  24. Yogi Berra was prescient by mcswell · · Score: 1

    Now it can really be the case that Nobody ever goes there anymore — it's too crowded.