Maps @ 20: Where Would We Be Without Google Maps?

First, Happy 20th Birth­day, Google Maps! We at INDEPENDENT wish you many more years of groundbreaking evolution.

20 years ago, exactly today, February 8, a crazy idea called Google Maps came to life on a desktop screen in Portland, Ore­gon. Not only did it come to life, like a growing child, it evolved into the journey partner it has become for many commuters all over the world today, including here in Nigeria.

A cursory look at the journey and evolution of maps over the two-decade period leads one to wonder, where would we be with­out Google Maps and its many services?

Looking back on two decades of innovation, one question stands out: Where would we be without Google Maps?

Today, over 20 billion people rely on Google Maps daily—not just for directions, but as an in­dispensable lifestyle tool.

The Evolution of Google Maps

After its February 8, 2005, launch, Maps launched Trip-Plan­ner, real-time transit information in more than 30 U.S. cities. This helped people instantly under­stand how congested their route was. Users could see millions of algorithmically powered predic­tions happening in real-time.

In 2007, Street View was born, and today users get imagery that covers more than 20 million ki­lometres – the equivalent of cir­cling the globe about 500 times.

Pressing on, Maps debuted turn-by-turn navigation – letting people confidently navigate unfa­miliar places with just the phones in their pocket.

But Maps was not done. By 2009 Google Maps started mak­ing maps from scratch using data from local governments, Street View and satellite imagery. Maps also launched the ‘report a problem’ feature giving people the ability to suggest edits to the map for the very first time.

2012 saw Street View launching a new way to explore the world with the Trekker, a backpack de­signed to capture 360° imagery. This technology allowed us to go beyond the roads and venture into places like the Grand Can­yon, which was the Trekker’s very first expedition. Since then, it’s traveled to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the heights of the Eiffel Tower, giving every­one a chance to experience these amazing places virtually.

By 2014, Maps made it even easier to find more helpful in­formation about places including business opening hours, ratings, and price ranges for restaurants, bars, and hotels. Today, this in­formation is available for over 250 million places around the world.

Local guides got their own plug-in in 2015 when the global community emerged. These ded­icated volunteers became the heart and soul of Google Maps, contributing everything from helpful reviews and photos to cru­cial accessibility information – ensuring that Google Maps stays fresh and up to date.

Of course, by 2019 when Live View (later renamed Lens in Maps walking navigation) was unveiled, it became the game changer the world was waiting for. Today, Lens in Maps walking navigation is available in over 100 countries – an industry first.

In 2023, with the launch of Im­mersive View, Maps introduced the future of Google Maps by transforming the way people explore landmarks, parks, sta­diums and routes thanks to ad­vances in computer vision, AI and billions of images. Not only can you see stunning imagery, but you can overlay Maps’ help­ful information about the weath­er so you know exactly what to expect before you head out. Nifty right?

After almost 20 years into the mapping journey, Google Maps entered its Gemini Era, and that was a banger – the hit of the de­cade.

With Gemini’s powerful cre­ation, reasoning and summari­sation capabilities — grounded in trusted data about 250 million places around the world and in­sights from the Maps community – all users need to do is ask Maps to get inspiration for things to do in a snap.

My idea of paradise is when all you need is at your fingertips and maps has made paradise on earth possible.

It makes one wonder where in­deed we would be without the life­style that Google Maps enables us to have.

Google Maps in Nigeria

In a fast-paced city like Lagos, where commuters move fast and time moves even faster, Google Maps has the answer to every­thing. Google Maps provides re­al-time insights to help commut­ers save time. Whether you’re looking for the busiest routes to avoid or the trendiest restaurants to visit, Maps has the answers.

Beyond convenience, Maps also enhances security and fam­ily connections. Live location sharing allows parents to track their children’s whereabouts, even across continents, offering peace of mind at all times.

Some have even likened Maps to the Yoruba divination system, where ancient practitioners pre­dicted daily forecasts. With Goo­gle Maps, we now have a modern oracle—showing where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

The Future of Maps: The Gemini Era

As Google Maps enters its Gemini Era, its AI-powered ca­pabilities are set to redefine navigation once again. With real-time insights, enhanced location data, and personalised recommendations, the future of Maps promises an even smarter, more intuitive experience for us­ers worldwide.

Beyond that, with Maps, we can tell where we have come from, where we are and where we are going.

So, as we celebrate 20 years of mapping the world, one thing is clear, Google Maps has come of age in a spectacular way, and our lives and our journeys will nev­er be the same again. Happy 20th Birthday, Google Maps!