Apple wants to overhaul its mapping navigation system, providing a solution that is more reminiscent of a real human navigator, according to a patent application uncovered by Cult of Mac today.
In doing so, the company could improve its long-maligned Apple Maps app, while also gaining ground on rivals such as Google.
The problem with existing navigation systems, as Apple lays out in its application, is that while they are accurate (e.g. “head north for 600 feet”), they are not always easily comprehensible to drivers. A situation in which a road name is given by the app where none is visible in real life can be stressful to the driver, and result in navigation problems.
Instead, Apple suggests building navigation sessions around landmarks, which can be described in much the way that a human navigator would do, while also referring to street signs.
In an example of how a journey might start, the example is given of a driver being advised to “exit the parking lot near AppleBees.RTM. restaurant.” Meanwhile, a step along the journey might be “turn right at the school building ahead,” while the journey could conclude with the driver being told that “your destination is the apartment complex with the water fountain in the front.”
The application also describes how it would suggest lanes for users to stick to on the freeway, such as “stay in the middle lane to continue on to the Bay Bridge,” or “stay on the right-most lane and exit on to 85N.”
While some of these features are already being incorporated into rival mapping services, they’d certainly be a welcome addition to Apple Maps. Apple’s mapping service has come a long way from its early days as a tech laughing stock. The company ironed out many of the early glitches, began updating Apple Maps every day, and has introduced innovative features such as Flyover, the small business-oriented Apple Maps Portal, and even (simulated) real-time elements.
Who knows? Against all odds, Apple may wind up coming out triumphant in the mapping wars.
Source: USPTO
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
5 responses to “Apple wants to make its Maps app directions a bit more human”
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I think Apple Maps is the weak point in IOS. I am a frequent European traveller and find Google Maps far far superior. Being able to download and store a map on my iPhone for use where there is no WiFi or cellular data is an absolute must for me, why is this feature not available in Apple Maps?
Sorry Apple, you have a long long way to go to catch up.
I live in Europe and use Apple Maps all the time. The maps themselves are excellent, but most of the difficulties come from the database of places. The database will often fail to locate a village by name, while the map displays that village with it’s correct name ( if you know where to look for it ). For instance, near Peterborough in the UK is a village called Eye. The map correctly shows it about 3 miles NE of Peterborough, but the database does not list it. There are hundreds of other examples.
Similarly, the database is very prone to suggesting a business in the US that uses part of a searched for name within it’s business name instead of a real location near me that actually has that name.
My biggest issue with all navigation apps and Sat navs is that they’re not very good when it comes to road closures and diversions. Somebody needs to work out a really workable solution that not only routes around an unexpected incident half a mile ahead, but can be told not to try and get back onto that road for at least two miles because the jam starts in half a mile, but the queue is for a mile and a half beyond that. I’ve often been in a situation where I had divert away from an accident, but then found that I was directed back to the original point because that was where the navigation system thought I needed to be.
How would you know if you don’t use it? Recent updates have it on par if not better than Gmaps for me. The fact you can’t change the voice in gmaps from that whiny american rubbish is the reason why you will never see me use it ever again.
Apple Maps is still pretty crap compared to Google in the Bay Area. I wish it weren’t so. I really want to like Apple Maps. Local destinations just don’t show up. My main gripe is that they rely on the horrific Yelp for content. Other than being a terrible source, the company is basically a giant extortionist (they’ve been a bully extortionist to non-profits I work with-just abominable). I wish Apple weren’t in bed with such terrible people.