Indoor Google Maps
Google has come up with a new and improved solution for those that are tired of getting lost in airports or malls; and for the people that want to know the quickest route to their indoor destination!
GoogleMaps got an upgrade that includes significantly improved indoor maps. This means that major locations like some malls, airports, and even department stores will have a handy map that even shows where you are with the image of a “little blue dot”. The maps will even detect what floor of a building you are on and adjust accordingly.
As with most new launches, there are a couple quirks that still need to be worked out. The Search option does not work indoors, meaning that you’ll have to scroll around the map to find a restroom or a specific department; you can’t just start typing to get there. Also there are no turn-by-turn directions (like the Google Road Maps), though in most situations, you would not need this.
The recent launch included participation from many major airports and big-name retailers like IKEA and the Home Depot. Of course, Google can’t work directly with each and every indoor venue, so it’s also launching a self-serve tool that will allow store owners to upload floor plans and/or blueprints of their venues if they so choose.
