Google is introducing a new feature in Google Maps called – ‘Plus Codes’ to help locations without any legitimate or defined means of addressing call gain visibility on the global space.
Remember the days of native billboard addresses for streets and towns, and how much they helped us find our way round a friend’s place or even receive postal letters from loved ones and organizations?
But think of it…
What if you’re in a situation you need something delivered to a particular location? Or need to call for medical help you probably have to give the person on the other end of the line your street address?
It’s pertinent that e-commerce was done at a normadic leve but we’ve come to appreciate how challenging this situation might be… literally, all of us.
How about you’re somewhere you don’t even know the address cos the probably don’t even have one?
Google Maps new feature called “Plus Codes” makes it easier to share your location data with anyone on the planet, call for service and get attended to—even if you’re fortuitously living under a rock.
It’s a pretty much a unique system for identifying any particular GPS-enabled location on the planet.
How does Google Map Plus Codes work?
Basically, it is a combination of six alphanumeric codes and a plus sign (+) which replaces a series of numbers, usually associated with coordinates, with a few characters.
For instance, while dropping a pin on Google Maps will generate a string of numbers (OLC) like 6.527196,3.186750*, doing same and tapping on the details of that same pinned location will reveal its Plus Code which often can look like HYT2+S5*.
This new location on the map can now be copied out or shared digitally as proxy address details.
While it is not clearly mentioned on the front pages the tech firm behind developing Plus Codes, several reports point to it as a project managed by Google’s Zurich engineering office, the same guys behind the Open Location Code (OLC) in 2014.
The formula adopted for this is
open source, it is hosted on GitHub and can be accessed by anyone who wishes to know how it works or develop it for their applications.
How to use Plus Codes in Google Maps
In Google Maps you can use the new Plus Codes feature in two ways – you can either find the Plus Code for a place or find a place using Google Plus Codes.
To create one, you’ll tap the blue dot on Google Maps that represents your present position right now. When you do, a new page will launch with your Plus Code at the top. Or, you can tap and hold on any location on the map to create a pin, then kick on the details tab to reveal its Plus Code.
Interestingly, these codes can be generated without any human intervention. This means that Plus Codes and it’s API are as open for use by individuals, as well as logistics and eCommerce platforms on their applications.
Currently, it can only be accessed on select Android devices but it will be rolled out fully in coming weeks, as stated by David Martin, Director of Programme Management at Google Maps.
What is the use case and should I be concerned about my security?
Plus Codes use cases. Image credit: Geospatialworld
This is really were it gets interesting because innovation when pulled off successfully really sparks loads of excitement.
The biggest challenge in the world we live in especially this part of life is – half of the world urban population still lives on an unnamed street.
This is unarguably the idea behind developing Google Maps Plus Code feature will no doubt be it’s major use case.
This is the notion behind most similar services like What3Words. With a similar move from Google Maps, it will no doubt be a huge uptake with organizations, businesses and humanitarian agencies start deploying it to get their services to individuals in urban areas who in this case themselves might not necessarily be ONLINE!
While this is very much a welcome addition to the tech ecosystem, it doesn’t deny the fact that it brings up more questions than answers.
Companies might see this as a loophole to gain a presence in uncharted by sending marketing campaigns to individuals living within a particular Plus Code.
How about fraudsters who might employ this to target innocent individuals who have no idea their presence on the web can be manipulated to their harm with just a random 6-digit code.
It is worthy of note that there has been early adoption in Utah, USA, and Kolkota, India which Martin touts was invaluable in delivering health services during the COVID-19.
Google Maps Plus Codes is an amazing feature that has come to stay though its success will be judged as time goes.
In coming weeks as these codes are eventually rolled out in Nigeria, we will be on the look out, whether it proves helpful or harmful to individuals and how much navigation ease it has brought to logistics and eCommerce users.
Originally Posted On NaijaTechGuy
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