Google Maps is set to revolutionize the navigation experience with an innovative feature hinted at in a recent patent. Titled “interactive voice navigation,” this concept offers drivers a more intuitive way to interact with the app for enhanced turn-by-turn guidance.
Currently, Google Maps provides basic spoken directions to assist drivers in navigating without constant screen checks. However, this patent introduces the idea of users interacting with the app to seek additional information or clarity during navigation.
Imagine driving amidst external noise or distractions within the vehicle, hindering clear hearing of navigation instructions. With this feature, drivers can prompt Google Maps to repeat directions or request specific details about upcoming turns.
For example, if the app instructs, “At the roundabout, use the first exit,” but the driver misses it due to surrounding noise, they can ask Google Maps to repeat or seek clarity, like, “Is the upcoming turn the first or the second intersection?”
Google Maps would then analyze the route and provide supplemental navigation instructions to clarify information, improving the user experience even in noisy environments.
To implement this, Google Maps would utilize technology akin to Google Assistant, enabling users to interact with the app using natural language commands. While still in the patent stage, this feature holds the potential to revolutionize navigation for drivers worldwide.
Despite challenges in implementation, such as training Google Maps to understand natural language, Google’s commitment to innovation suggests this interactive voice navigation could become a reality in the future.